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“No one has approached me as yet. So far, I am in BJP. I am also an executive member of the party. But yes, if my party offers me a chance, I am ready,”
Sudhir Kandolkar, MMC councillor and BJP executive member
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MAPUSA
Stepping out of the shadows of his mentor, Deputy Chief Minister and Mapusa MLA, Francis D’Souza, former chairperson and senior councillor Sudhir Kandolkar admitted that Mapusa was lagging behind in terms of development, but said the council would work for the development of the town.
He also stated that he would contest as a candidate for the assembly election in Mapusa, if the Bharatiya Janata Party gave him a chance.
“No one has approached me as yet. So far, I am in BJP. I am also an executive member of the party. But yes, if my party offers me a chance, I am ready,” said Kandolkar, speaking exclusively to 'The Goan' on Saturday.
Sudhir Kandolkar had lost the race of chairmanship of Mapusa Municipal Council to his junior colleague, Sandeep Falari.
On whether he was open to the idea of contesting on some other party label, he said he had not applied his mind on it.
“I have not decided anything so far. Our council has just been elected and we have to take up development of the town. Mapusa is lagging behind and we need to focus on development,” the former chairperson said.
“I have been elected for the fifth term in Mapusa. So I think I am capable of doing something…not only for my ward but for the whole of Mapusa,” he said further.
He said Mapusa needs a massive push on the development front and since the BJP government was in power in the State and Centre, all the elected representatives will work together for Mapusa’s development.
Kandolkar, once a blue-eyed boy of the Mapusa MLA, has somehow not found favour with the Deputy Chief Minister this time around.
Sulking over the decision of having been denied the post of chairperson, Kandolkar said initially everyone had agreed that the senior-most councillor would get a shot to be the first chairperson in the current term.
“The party must have had some compulsion, and accordingly, they decided to go with someone else for the top post. Once the party decides, everyone has to accept it,” said the former chairperson, who has been elected to the council for the fifth term, including a term where his wife was elected as the chairperson.
“Since the Deputy Chief Minister is the local MLA and our senior leader, his decision must have been final in the choice to select the leader. I don’t know in what angle he has arrived at the decision,” he added, clearly expressing disappointment for having been overlooked for the first choice.
He said he had hoped to be elected as the chairperson as he was the seniormost member in the council.
“I thought my past experience, my approach to the people and the efforts that I put in trying to take the Down Town scheme forward would hold me in good stead. I was sure I would be given the chance,” he said.
Kandolkar, however, said he was a dedicated partyman and will work with the council for the development of Mapusa.
