OLD GOA
With the announcement of BJP tickets in Cumbarjua and St Cruz, rebellion hit the party in both the constituencies with its aspiring candidates deciding to go their own way.
The rebellion was, however, more visible in Cumbarjua with Union Minister Shripad Naik’s son vowing to defeat the BJP candidate Janita Madkaikar.
At a meeting held in Corlim, Naik along with his supporters have taken a decision to defeat the BJP candidate Janita Madkaikar as they said Naik deserved the ticket.
The supporters also urged Naik to leave the BJP and go independent, a decision which will be taken on Friday.
When questioned by reporters that deciding to defeat a BJP candidate would go against the party, Naik said he had already informed that he would not work for Cumbharjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar or his wife, Janita, if either of them were given the ticket.
At the meeting, Naik’s supporters also hit out at BJP and alleged that the central committee had allotted the ticket to Naik, but it was changed by State leaders under pressure from Babush Monserrate.
“Till Tuesday night, we were told that Siddesh has got the ticket. However, the decision was changed overnight by leaders in the State,” the supporters charged at the meeting, which was coordinated by Corlim Deputy Sarpanch Shiva Naik and a large number of supporters.
Another BJP ticket aspirant in Cumbarjua, Rohan Harmalkar, has already decided to contest independently.
