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MAPUSA
Former three-time chairperson of Mapusa and senior councillor, Sudhir Kandolkar has emerged as the front runner for the BJP ticket in the ensuing by-election for Mapusa even as the State election committee of the BJP has zeroed in on two candidates both of whom are currently councillors in Mapusa.
The BJP State election committee has recommended the names of Sudhir Kandolkar and former Mapusa MLA’s son Joshua D’Souza to the central election committee which is expected to announce its choice within the next two days.
Former chief minister, Manohar Parrikar’s aide, Rupesh Kamat was the third aspirant for the BJP ticket in Mapusa.
BJP General Secretary, Sadanand Tanavde informed that the State party unit has recommended two names and it was now left for the BJP’s central election committee to take the final call on the ticket. “No name has been finalised yet for the Mapusa seat. But the names of Sudhir Kandolkar and Joshua D’Souza have been sent to the central election committee which will take an appropriate decision,” Tanavde said.
Sources informed that support of majority of the councillors of the Mapusa Municipal Council and BJP mandal tilted the balance in Kandolkar’s favour.
The former chairperson’s age and his steadfast support to the party all these years also kept him in good stead.
At least one BJP MLA from Bardez has extended support to Kandolkar’s candidature for the Mapusa seat.
When contacted former chairperson, Sudhir Kandolkar informed he has received feelers that his name has been finalised but he would wait for the official confirmation. “My campaign is going on in full steam in Mapusa. I have been getting good response from my supporters and even of the voters in Mapusa,” Kandolkar blushed.
The former chairperson was a close confidante of former Mapusa MLA, Francisco D’Souza but during the 2017 assembly election the relation between the two soured after Kandolkar began to openly campaign his ambition to contest the assembly election.
I am confident to get BJP ticket: Joshua
MAPUSA: Former Mapusa MLA’s son, Joshua D’Souza on Wednesday said that he was confident that BJP will allot the ticket to him for the Mapusa by-election.
“As of now I am confident the BJP will allot the ticket to me. I have called up some senior leaders of the BJP and they have said that no decision has been finalised for the Mapusa seat,” D’Souza, who is a councillor in Mapusa said.
When asked whether he had Plan B in mind if things don’t go his way, the former Mapusa MLA’s son said that he will have to take a decision along with his supporters.
“If it (the party decision) goes against me then I will have to take an appropriate step. Ultimately the voters who have supported my father for the last 20 years will decide for me. I will take a meeting with prominent persons and based on their say we will decide on the future course of action,” he said.
He also said he has not approached Congress or any other party for a ticket for the Mapusa seat. Incidentally, Joshua D’Souza met Deputy Chief Minister and Fatorda MLA, Vijai Sardesai on Wednesday and was closeted with him for quite some time.
It may be recalled Sardesai had publicly said that he would back Joshua D’Souza to carry on his father’s legacy forward in Mapusa.
