CANACONA
While the BJP is yet to decide on its candidate for the party ticket in Canacona constituency, the situation is no different for the Congress party, which is also undecided on its candidate and has reportedly narrowed its choice from five to two candidates.
The Congress had initially shortlisted 3 ticket aspirants, Janardhan Bhandari (GPCC General Secretary), Mahadev Dessai (GPCC Secretary) and Chetan Desai (former Goa Cricket Association president), to contest in Canacona constituency.
But the Congress is aware that the party base is divided among two of the three aspirants and even conducted a private survey, only to find that neither of those two aspirants names stand a strong chance to win in Canacona constituency.
Sources told The Goan that central and party leaders are then reported to have had talks with former Canacona MLA Vijay Poi Khot and Canacona Municipal Council Chairperson Simon Rebello and their supporters.
Poi Khot had made it clear that he intends to contest as an independent and even held a series of meetings with his supporters.
As consultations and meetings continued, Rebello initially showing his willingness to contest if the party wanted him to do so but later, he along with all seven ruling Canacona councillors pledged their support to Chetan Desai.
While Janardhan Bhandari continues to be officially one of the ticket aspirants, he is reportedly not too keen in contesting elections, but is eager to canvas for the party nominee and has virtually pulled himself out of the race.
Mahadev Dessai has been on a door-to-door campaign in the past two-three months, but has publicly stated that his campaign is for the Congress party.
Despite the divisions among party workers, the Congress leaders have completed several rounds of consultations and is likely to shortlist its candidates by Monday evening.
But with Poi Khot reluctant to contest on the Congress ticket and Rebello having given his preference to Chetan Dessai, the Congress is also aware that Bhandari is not keen to contest elections.
That leaves Chetan Dessai and Mahadev Dessai as the two likely candidates for the Congress party ticket.
Desai has reportedly assured to campaign with all three blocks (Canacona Congress block, Canacona Youth Congress and Canacona Mahila Congress) and Congress grass roots workers in a bid to reach out to the electorate.
