MARGAO
The stakes may not be high for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in minority Salcete, but the party too has a task cut out to finalize candidates in some of the seats zeroed in by the party.
While the candidatures of sitting Congress-turned-BJP MLA Clafacio Dias and former MLA Damu Naik have been cleared in Cuncolim and Fatorda respectively, the party still has a task cut out to finalize candidates in Margao and Navelim, where the party enjoys a strong presence.
In Margao, the party is open to fielding Deputy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar to take on Opposition leader Digambar Kamat, but Ajgaonkar hasn’t still got an answer from the party leadership on whether the rank and file of the party will rally behind him in the election.
In neighbouring Navelim, a couple of party leaders, including two-time ZP member Ulhas Tuemkar, Satyavijai Naik and Muslim leader Urfan Mulla have staked their claim for the party ticket.
As far as Curtorim is concerned, a section of the party leadership is if of the view that the ticket should go to ST leader Anthony Barbosa.
