the goan I network
MAPUSA
With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) kicking off the process to field a candidate to succeed former Mapusa MLA late Francis Dsouza for the Mapusa constituency bypoll, his son and Mapusa Councillor Joshua D’Souza and fellow Councillor Sudhir Kandolkar have both staked interest in the party ticket.
Both councillors had made their intentions clear during one of two BJP meetings convened in Mapusa on Monday evening.
Sources informed The Goan that one meeting was convened with BJP-backed councillors at D’Souza’s residence.
During the meeting, Joshua claimed he wanted to continue his father’s legacy and work for the betterment of people in a bigger way, prompting other councillors to voice their support to him.
On the other hand, Kandolkar insisted it was his turn to get the party ticket as he had worked for the party and that, late Francis D’Souza had assured Kandolkar of his support.
It was, however, unclear if Kandolkar got the support of other councillors as one councillor suggested that the party should decide on the ticket, after sensing differences within party members and with both Joshua and Kandolkar staking interest in the BJP ticket.
Later, BJP Organisational Secretary Satish Dhond convened a meeting at Morod with the Mapusa BJP block and party workers.
BJP leaders Kishore Asnodkar, Mapusa Municipal Council Chairperson Ryan Braganza, Joshua, Kandolkar, Sandeep Falari and otherswere present at the meeting.
During the meeting, there was no discussion on the party ticket for the Mapusa bypoll and Dhond advised party workers to take government schemes to every household and to work at the grassroots.
He also asked workers to focus on the Lok Sabha election to ensure the victory of the BJP candidate.
Sources also added that some other councillors, including Braganza, Falari, Rohan Kavlekar and Martin Carrasco, as well as Ashish Shirodkar and Rupesh Kamat also have plans to contest the assembly election on the BJP ticket and it may be an uphill task for the BJP to persuade them to back out from the race.
