MARGAO
Everything seems to be going well for three-time Quepem MLA, Babu Kavlekar ahead of the 2017 Assembly election. But, the big question still remains unanswered “ will his wife, Savitri bag the Congress ticket to contest from Sanguem constituency?
Otherwise, consider this. On the day of Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Margao earlier this month, Kavlekar literally flooded the Holy Spirit Church square by mobilising thousands of supporters for the Congress rally, and gelled well with the Congress vice-president and other party leaders.
That not all. The party leadership has appointed him as in-charge of seven Assembly constituencies in down South, including his home constituency Quepem, Canacona, Curchorem, Sanguem, Sanvordem, Cuncolim and Velim with a brief to turn the party’s fortunes in the 2017 electoral battle.
Babu, however, has one last hurdle to cross ahead of the ensuing election “ to ensure that wife Savitri gets the Congress nomination for the Sanguem Assembly constituency to take on BJP MLA Subhash Phaldesai.
Ask the diminutive three-time Quepem legislator on this crucial question, and he replies in his inimitable style, saying that Savitri may get the party nomination in her own right and not because she happens to be his wife.
“Savitri is not new to politics. She had been working in Sanguem for quite a long time now. She is the District Mahila Congress chief. Some of the ticket contenders for the Sanguem seat have withdrawn in Savitri’s favour. Now, it is up to the party high command to take a call,” Babu told The Goan on Wednesday.
Behind Babu’s simple reply, however, one can sense a determined bid by the Kavlekars to get the Sanguem Assembly ticket for Savitri. During Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Margao, the Kavlekars had indeed impressed all and sundry by mobilising thousands of supporters from both Quepem and Sanguem for the rally. That his supporters carried placards showing photos of Savitri with Rahul Gandhi has sent a message loud and clear to the party leadership that the Kavlekars are not content in their fiefdom Quepem, but are out to play a much bigger role in the party.
Incidentally, the overt and covert moves by the Kavlekars comes at a time when the Congress is making a determined bid to return back to power by admitting its past mistakes on family raj and fielding the old veterans in the 2012 election. Once beaten, twice shy goes the adage. But sources reveal that the Congress leadership will have to grapple with the Kavlekars' claim for tickets for both husband and wife for the Quepem and Sanguem seats.
When this question was posed to AICC general secretary in-charge of Goa desk, Digvijaya Singh during his recent visit to Goa, he had cited instances of two members of a family nominated for Congress tickets, including the Ranes and the Monserrates, to prove a point or two.
Sources in the know said the Kavlekars have made a strong case in support of Savitri’s claim. Hailing from the Dhangar community, the Kavlekars have argued that the strong presence of Dhangars in Sanguem constituency will be an added advantage for Savitri if given the nomination. Besides, the Kavlekars have contended that the two ST dominated villages, Molcornem and Cavrem-Pilla of Sanguem constituency, which was formerly part of his erstwhile Quepem constituency, will keep Savitri in good stead.
A senior Congress leader, however, said that much would depend on the party high command, whether the party leadership will make an exception to the 'one family, one ticket' norm to accommodate the interests of the Kavlekars as he has promised to win five out of the seven seats under his charge for the Congress party in the coming election.
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COUPLING EFFECT
- Quepem MLA, Babu Kavlekar wants the Cong party to allocate the Sanguem ticket to his wife Savitri
- According to Babu, she is the District Mahila Congress chief and has been in politics for quite some time
- Babu says the sizeable presence of Dhangars in Sanguem will boost Savitri's prospects at the polls
