CANACONA
While the BJP is still in disarray over the party candidate for Canacona constituency, the Congress leaders have reportedly seized the opportunity to mend their own differences and mobilise party workers in support of its party candidate, Isidore Fernandes.
Till Wednesday, the Congress workers also appeared to be a divided lot in Canacona, with Isidore Fernandes, block president Elvis Fernandes and a former Youth president Sanju Naik were campaigning in one group. On the other hand, GPCC Secretaries and ticket aspirants Mahadev Dessai and Janardhar Bhandari, besides another ticket aspirant Daya Pagui and Youth President Shubam Komarpant were campaigning in another group.
Even on Thursday, when Congress announced the ticket to Fernandes, three other ticket aspirants were seen visiting and meeting some prominent former Congress leaders, fuelling further speculation that all was not well in the Congress as well.
On Friday, sources told The Goan that Quepem MLA Chandrakant Kavlekar, himself a contestant in Quepem constituency, brought all Congress workers on one platform, with all local leaders agreeing to work tireless for the success of the party candidate.
It is also reliably learnt that Congress has convened a meeting of party well-wishers and leaders on Saturday evening to discuss their poll strategy.
When contacted, Isidore clarified that he would be contesting the assembly elections.
“Rumors that I would not contest on the Congress ticket are wrong. I am a Congressman and I will certainly contest on the Congress ticket,” he said.
Block president Elvis Fernandes sought to explain why party workers and local leaders were not moving together with their party candidate. “This time, we have a different campaign strategy and it’s not necessary that all Congressmen have to campaign together. As the days are few, areas have been suitably distributed,” he said.
Added GPCC secretary Janardhan Bhandari: “We are loyal and dedicated party workers. We are all working together for the success of the party candidate.”
Daya Pagui claimed that so-called differences were deliberately planted by divisive forces to divide the secular Congress votes. Another aspirant, Mahadev Dessai, who was confident of the party ticket till the last moment, also pledged support to the Congress party through a united campaign.
