CANACONA
The BJP’s decision to deny its party ticket to former minister Ramesh Tawadkar backfired on two counts, as the party candidate Vijay Poi Khot lost the polls to Congress MLA Isidore Fernandes after BJP votes had been split between Tawadkar, a rebel candidate, and Khot.
Besides, the Canacona BJP block virtually resigned en masse in support of Tawadkar, leaving the BJP Canacona block without most of its local leaders.
Reports were doing the rounds that the BJP had plans to replace Naik, to revive the party’s presence in Canacona and this came after Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar had asked the block to re-build itself, during one of his visits to Canacona.
Addressing a news conference, Canacona BJP spokesman Bhushan Prabhugaonkar dismissed reports that Naik would be replaced as BJP block president.
“We contacted our headquarters at Panaji and they confirmed that there are no such moves. Moreover, the party leadership is pleased with our block president’s contribution during the assembly elections. Despite his ill-health and a major revolt within the block, he strongly remained with the party and even addressed election meetings. Under such circumstances, Naik will not be replaced, but on the contrary, our block is being strengthened by filling the vacant posts,” he said.
Prabhugaonkar informed that some key vacant posts in the Canacona BJP Block would be filled shortly and assured that the block would continue to function vibrantly in future.
