CANACONA
Former Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes became the first BJP rebel leader in the State to file a nomination as independent candidate on Monday.
Fernandes submitted his nomination, which was also the first in Canacona constituency, to the Returning Officer (Canacona) Udhay Prabhudessai in the presence of Poinguinim ZP member Shobhana Velip and Loliem-Polem Sarpanch Sachin Naik, while a group of supporters stood outside the Dy Collectorate office.
BJP Canacona Block President Nandip Bhagat, Canacona BJYM President Satish Gosavi and a number of panchas and countillors have assured their support to Fernandes in his campaign as an independent candidate.
Later speaking to reporters outside the Returning Office, Fernandes said due to paucity of time, a seven-tier campaign with various teams would be launched in seven different areas in the constituency. “I will accompany just one or two supporters from their respective areas to go door-to-door from Tuesday'.
“I had to file an independent nomination on the demand of my supporters as my party had failed to give me the ticket to contest. I will contest elections with the full support from the Canacona BJP block, besides elected representatives in Canacona constituency,” said Fernandes.
Fernandes is one of two BJP rebels who have revolted against the party, after the party ticket was allotted to former minister Ramesh Tawadkar, who was himself a rebel candidate in the 2017 assembly elections.
