Members of the Pagi community who are part of Akhil Goa Kshatriya Pagi Samaj hold a meeting in Canacona on Sunday.
CANACONA
Barely days after claims for party tickets to contest the forthcoming assembly elections, the Pagi community which is part of the Akhil Goa Kshetriya Pagi Samaj (AGKPS) met in Canacona on Sunday to discuss the fielding a community member to contest the assembly elections from Canacona.
The members also discussed the possibility of lending support to any community member nominated by a national party to contest the assembly elections.
Former Poinguinim ZP member Daya Pagi recently made his intention known as one claimant to the Congress ticket, while former chairperson of Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) Divakar Pagi is one of at least six aspirants to the BJP ticket in Canacona.
Besides, Prashant Pagi, who is presently handling RG’s Canacona Covid assistance campaign, has also indicated his interest to contest elections from the Revolutionary Goans
The names of Divakar Pagi, Daya Pagi and Loliem-Panch panch Anup Kudtarkar came up for discussion, while members also deliberated on various aspects and avenues for the political aspirations of the community.
“At one time, community members were in the forefront of political parties, but the community has not been given due consideration though Pagi Samaj is the second largest community after the Velip Samaj in Canacona constituency,” said a source who attended the meeting.
According to the source, the Pagi community has about 5,500 voters, which is second highest vote bank in Canacona constituency.
There was also discussion that if no community member is given any party ticket, the community would go ahead and field one of their candidates in the forthcoming assembly polls.
Among those who attended the Pagi community meeting on Sunday included Pagi Samaj founder member and ex-CMC chairperson Ratnakar Dhuri, ex-CMC chairperson Divakar Pagi, Canacona BJP Youth President Sanju Pagi, Rohidas Madgaonkar, Loliem-Polem Panch Anup Kudatarkar, Poinguinim Panch Rudresh Namshikar, Loliem-Polem Panch Shailesh Pagi, Pankaj Namshikar, Akhil Goa Kshatriya Pagii Samaj President Ashok Dhuri, Secretary Sarvanand Kankonkar and Treasurer Prasad Pagi.
