CANACONA
Having rejected an offer to contest on the MGP ticket after earlier severing ties with the BJP, former minister Ramesh Tawadkar on Tuesday filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate from Canacona.
A large number of supporters gathered outside the Deputy Collector complex at Chaudi to show solidarity and support rebel BJP and ex-MLA Tawadkar, who submitted his nomination papers as independent candidate to Canacona Returning Officer Kedar Naik.
Tawadkar exuded confidence that most of the Karyakartas, which he had mobilised for the BJP, would stand with him and work to get him elected with a thumping majority.
It may be recalled that following the denial of the BJP ticket to Tawadkar, all the 56 booth committees and many block members of Canacona BJP Mandal, Mahila Morcha Mandal and Yuva Morcha had resigned en masse.
However, few members of Yuva Morcha, including its president Pankaj Naik Gaonkar, withdrew their resignations and have decided to work for the party candidate, Vijay Pai Khot, following the intervention of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Incidentally, Tawadkar took a break from intense campaigning after filing his nomination papers since poll fever commenced a week ago. He had even campaigned on the day he was refused BJP nomination, but was found taking rest with his close supporters at his Chaudi residence.
“Yes, I filed the nomination papers as independent candidate. I need not bring loads of supporters to show it to some top leaders, but you have seen the people who turned up while I filed my papers,” said Tawadkar.
Commenting on the rejection of the MGP ticket, Tawadkar said: “I did approach the Dhavalikar brothers to support my candidature, but they had other issues.”
When informed that MGP has already given its party ticket to former minister late Sanjay Bandekar's son, Gourish, Tawadkar added: “I had hoped they would support me, but I am surprised that they have now decided to field a candidate here.”
Shortly after filing his nomination, Tawadkar staged a rally with hundreds of supporters who came to show solidarity, from the deputy collector's office to his residence at Ruby residency, where he later addressed a meeting.
