PANAJI
In a major boost to the Trinamool Congress in Siolim, former minister and two-time MLA Ashok Naik, former Congress North Goa District General Secretary Ritesh Naik along with several supporters joined the party in the presence of Goa TMC leader Kiran Kandolkar and former Rajya Sabha MP and AITC leader Kirti Azad at the party office in Panaji, stated a press release.
Following the induction, Ritesh Naik said, “I was earlier associated with the Congress but they were not committed to working in the best interest of the people. So, I left the party. I have now joined TMC because it is the only party that has the intent and courage to defeat the BJP.”
In a separate event in Cumbarjua, Goa TMC leaders Kiran Kandolkar, Samil Volvoikar, Avita Bandodkar, Swati Kerkar, Mario Pinto, Wilson Valladares and AITC leader Kirti Azad welcomed over 150 grassroots leaders soon after inaugurating the party’s new office, the release added.
Some of the prominent inductees include Asha Laxmikant Pai, former sarpanch, Prashant Harvalkar, former sarpanch, Sadanand Phadte, former sarpanch, Sangeeta Harvalkar, former deputy sarpanch, Minin Pinto, former IAF officer, Laxmikant Pai, former treasurer of Cumbarjua Congress block committee and social workers Ashok Chopdekar and Shekhar Kesarkar.
On being asked about TMC’s first list of candidates, Kiran Kandolkar said, "We’ll set up our committee in the next 2-3 days and declare the candidates by January 17 or 18."
