ZEROING IN ON CANDIDATES
MANDREM
* Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar the only choice of mandal members
CORTALIM
* The only name that comes up is that of RDA Minister Alina Saldanha
ST ANDRE
Name of Ramrao Wagh, brother of Vishnu Wagh, emerges with three others
BICHOLIM
* Rajesh Patnekar frontrunner. Ticket aspirant Shilpa Naik skips meeting
VASCO
Carlos Almeida’s name may be shortlisted. Daji Salkar’s name too discussed
CANACONA
The only name that comes up for party candidature is that of Ramesh Tawadkar
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The State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continued with its meetings with constituency mandals to shortlist probable candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls. The party on Monday held meetings for another six constituencies - Vasco, Bicholim, Cortalim, Mandrem, Canacona and St Andre.
The party is likely to zero down on its existing MLAs in all constituencies except St Andre, where three names emerged for party’s candidature.
In Mandrem, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar was the only choice of mandal members for the candidature. Similar was the case with Cortalim with Rural Development Minister Alina Saldanha’s name being the only one which came up during the meeting.
As regards Bicholim, Rajesh Patnekar was the frontrunner for the party’s candidature. Interestingly, Shilpa Naik, who was also an aspirant for the Bicholim ticket skipped the meeting. The members were also informed that Shilpa has decided to support’s party’s take on selection of candidate.
However, it was learnt from reliable sources that Naik, who was invited for a meeting with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, got into a verbal spat with the Union minister. Sources also stated that Naik has decided not to contest the polls, but would continue to be with the party. Additionally, she has decided not to work for BJP’s candidate in the constituency.
In Vasco constituency, Current MLA Carlos Almeida’s name is likely to be shortlisted, but another aspirant Daji Salkar’s name also came up for consideration. Sources informed that Parrikar assured the members that the party would talk to Salkar and convince him.
However, sources informed that Parrikar has held two meetings with Salkar and another meeting of Vasco constituency is likely to be held sooner or later.
In St Andre, three names were suggested by party workers “ Tony Fernandes, Somnath Patil and Sarita Borkar. Sources also informed that Vishnu Wagh’s brother Ramrao Wagh’s name is also being weighed by the party for his candidature.
With these six constituencies, BJP has managed to cover 22 constituencies. Sources informed that the constituencies in which two or more names have come up for the Party’s candidature, only one will be zeroed in. Additionally, the Party is trying its best to keep its members intact so that its prospects in the upcoming polls are not affected.
