CANACONA
Stating he has to literally send back people coming in large numbers to join him in his campaign to avoid Election Commission's wrath, Deputy Deputy Chief Minister and Quepem MLA Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar has on Sunday launched a vigorous door-to-door campaign in Khola village, part of Quepem constituency.
Kavlekar wearing the BJP Scarf around his neck first took the blessings at Saleri temple, and thereafter began his padyatra surrounded by around 8-10 karyakartas visiting houses.
"A large number of people are coming out and want to accompany me, but I had to request people to stay away as I do not wish to incur the EC's ire of gathering more than permitted number of people. I am getting a rousing welcome, infact more than I had ever (in my previous elections) encountered," Kavlekar said.
Speaking further to The Goan, Kavlekar said, his support and voter base has doubled in this election.
"Almost 4 months ago, I had started with 'ghar-ghar chalo abhiyan, sarkar tumchea dhari'. After a brief gap, we had re-commenced the same and now as the code of conduct have come into effect, there are limitations on participation. Whenever I plan to go to certain areas I find people in hundreds gathering, but since I had to adhere to rules I had to send all back, and i continue with only 8-10 people at the most," Kavlekar added.
Kavlekar however informed he has yet to decide on a date file his nomination, but he said taking divine blessings he will decide and file his nomination.
When asked about his wife, he said his wife's political ambitions are completely different and she takes her own decisions, adding that she was previously also with BJP.
"Last five elections I had fought on Congress won four times, this double hat-trick/sixth election for me is on BJP. Besides, while my erstwhile Congress workers who were with me for last many years are still intact with me, BJP mandal has come out strongly with several core karyakartas rallying with me. So not only my win is a foregone conclusion, but the margin this time will make it a one-way contest when results comes out," he said.
