MARGAO
From playing a strategic role in the constituency over the last two decades by backing Independents against the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party has firmly set its eyes on the Navelim seat in the ensuing polls.
For the first time in the last 20 years, BJP’s Lotus symbol will return back on the ballot paper in the February 14 polls, with the party fielding two-time Zilla Panchayat member Ulhas Tuemkar for the Navelim seat.
Party’s decision to contest the ensuing polls assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that a host of anti-BJP parties will be vying for the same space in Navelim this round, with party leaders in private exuding confidence that a split in the secular vote may help the Lotus bloom in the constituency.
That BJP State president Sadanand Tanavade descended in Navelim on Thursday to kick off Tuemkar’s election campaign, hours after the party announced the candidates, indicates that the party has attached importance to Navelim this time round.
Tuemkar thanked the party leadership for nominating him in Navelim by reposing their faith in his candidature. “We have been working in Navelim for the last 25 years, building the party from the grass-roots. We had started from zero around two decades ago and now we are in a position to win Navelim,” he said.
BJP State president Sadanand Tanavade said a couple of political parties have contacted the party to extend party’s support to them, but the leadership has paid heed to the demand of the party workers that the party should contest the Navelim seat on the Lotus symbol.
As many as four candidates, including Ulhas Tuemkar, Satyavijai Naik and Urfan Mulla had staked claim for the party Navelim ticket. Incidentally, both Satyavijai and Urfan Mulla were conspicuous by their absence when Tuemkar visited the temple to kick-start the camp. Tuemkar, however, downplayed the duos absence, saying the two leaders are holed up in their respective areas, holding meetings with the workers.
