the goan I network
MARGAO
Who will be the BJP candidate against five-time Margao MLA and former Congress Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat, in the February 4 Assembly poll?
With time running out and party workers and cadres looking a worried lot, the BJP leadership invited the probable candidate, members of the mandal, besides members of the state and district committee from Margao to Panjim to elicit their views on the party candidate to take on Kamat for the Margao seat.
The probable candidates and the workers, however, returned home by leaving the decision on the selection of candidates to the state leadership comprising Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar. Block and other members are believed to have expressed their views to Parrikar, Parsekar, Union Minister Sripad Naik and South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar during the meeting.
The delay in the selection of candidate to take on Digambar Kamat seems weighing heavily on the minds of the probable candidates and the workers alike. With less than 24 days to go for the Assembly poll, both leaders and workers are a worried lot, raising questions whether they will be able to make a dent within a short time.
A probable candidate wondered why the party leadership had to delay the entire process when they know the opponent is a strong one. “Just 24 days to go for the election and our leadership is taking their own time in finalizing the candidate for Margao,” he rued.
When The Goan posed this question to South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar, he said the party is seized of the Margao situation, adding that the central election committee will take a call on the candidate for Margao among the 2-3 probable candidates.
Replying to another question, he said that the party leadership should take a final call on the Margao candidate within a day or two. “I can only say that the Central Election Commission will take a decision on the probable candidate amongst two-three names,” Sawaikar said, when asked whether the party is toying with the idea of fielding a woman this time round.
Though Sawaikar did not unveil the names which have been recommended to the CEC, the names of Sharmad Raiturkar, Bhai Naik and councilor Suchita Malkarnekar have started doing the rounds.
