Sulakshana Sawant addressing the BJP party workers along with party candidate Vitthal Halgekar and other leaders in Khanapur. Captured by : Louis Rodrigues
BELAGAVI
While BJP leaders from Goa including Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and others are making their presence felt by campaigning in places bordering Goa, Sulakshana Sawant, wife of the Goa CM, is also seen in the forefront and is the BJP incharge and observer for Khanapur taluka.
The BJP leaders in Goa have been engaged in canvassing for the party’s candidate for the May 10 Karnataka State Assembly elections as the number of voters from Khanapur residing in Goa is huge. Hence, the party leadership has decided to send Goan ministers and leaders to Belagavi to campaign in Khanapur and Belagavi region.
Sulakshana Sawant is in Khanapur since Saturday and is campaigning for Vitthal Halgekar, the BJP candidate for Khanapur constituency.
Speaking eloquent Marathi, she was the main resource person during a workshop that was held for party workers in Khanapur.
Speaking to media persons Sawant expressed confidence that the BJP candidate in Khanapur would win the seat with a huge margin of over one lakh votes.
“During the 2018 elections, Vitthal Halgekar lost by a very thin margin against the Congress candidate. Despite that, he kept on working for the people of Khanapur. I am here to ensure his victory. We are putting up a united front against the opponents and I am sure that our candidate would win with a huge margin of over one lakh,” Sawant said.
She also appealed to voters from Khanapur taluka residing in Goa to vote for the BJP candidate.
“I urge all the residents of Khanapur residing in Goa to support the party candidate,” Sawant said.
However, the task may not be easy for the party due to disgruntled BJP leaders.
Former MLA Arvind Patil and senior BJP leader Dr Sonali Sarnobat who are popular due to their services to people in many villages of Khanapur taluka are in a rebellious mood on being denied the ticket and may play a spoilsport for BJP in Khanapur taluka.
Khanapur constituency is all set for a triangular contest between the Congress, BJP and the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES).
The Congress had fielded the sitting MLA Dr Anjali Nimbalkar, while social activist Murlidhar Patil is the MES candidate.
