MARGAO
In an apparent show of strength, a melava of supporters and well-wishers of BJP Navelim constituency leader Satyavijai Naik has strongly demanded that the party nominates the leader for the Navelim seat in the ensuing polls.
Satyavijai’s supporters, who turned up in strength, vowed to rally behind the leader in the coming polls.
The melava by Satyavijai’s supporters and the demand for party ticket has come at a time when a couple of party leaders, including two-time Davorlim ZP member Ulhas Tuemkar and Urfan Mulla have laid a strong claim for the BJP ticket for the Navelim seat.
The BJP, which did not contest the Navelim seat in recent elections, but had extended support to Independents and anti-Congress candidates in 2007, 2012 and 2017 elections, has set its eyes on Navelim, more so anticipating a split in the Congress vote due to the presence of host of parties in the election fray.
The melava of the supporters of Satyavijai has come against the backdrop of reports that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, party State president Sadanand Tanavade and a Union Minister were scheduled to descend at Navelim constituency on Sunday. This is the second time in the last one month that supporters of Satyavijai have demanded that the BJP nominate him as a candidate for the Navelim seat.
Satyavijai said his supporters will petition the BJP leadership to give the ticket to him in order to win the Navelim seat.
Sources said the race for the party ticket for the Navelim seat will only intensify in the coming days if the BJP leadership finally decides to contest the ensuing polls from the constituency.
Presently, local party leaders have all hit the ground as part of the party’s State-wide programme to move door-to-door and meet the constituents.
While supporters of ZP member Ulhas Tuemkar have exuded confidence of the two-time ZP member getting the party ticket, supporters of Urfan Mulla have staked claim for the ticket on grounds that the Navelim constituency plays host to a strong 6,000-Muslim vote.
