MAPUSA
Three councillors-elect who were elected on the opposition backed panel of Mapshakarancho Ekvott in the recent civic elections in Mapusa, on Tuesday, joined the BJP in the presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and State BJP President Sadanand Tanavade.
Two brothers, Tarak and Vikas Arolkar, from Wards 7 and 8 respectively and Viraj Phadte from Ward 16 officially joined the ruling BJP.
The State BJP President Sadanand Tanavade informed that an Independent candidate of Ward 20 would also join the BJP, which would take the total tally of the saffron party to 14 in the 20-member Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC).
Earlier, Shubangi Vaigankar who was also elected on the opposition backed panel of Mapshakarancho Ekvott, had joined the BJP.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the three councillors joined the party for the development of Mapusa.
“In the long run, their contribution will be very crucial in bringing about all round development of the town,” Sawant said.
State BJP President Sadanand Tanavade informed that Independent candidate Prakash Bhivshet was also expected to join the party but for some reasons, he could not be present for the event.
He said BJP will benefit from the entry of the three councillors-elect.
“All the three may have won from some other panel but they have got elected on their individual capacity and the social work they have done in the wards,” Tanavade said, responding to queries on trying to poach candidates from the opposition-backed panel, adding, “in the election all kinds of things happen but finally its politics.”
He said all three have joined the party unconditionally and their only purpose to enter BJP was for “vikas” in their wards.
Both the Arolkar brothers, particularly Tarak Arolkar, had run a shrill campaign against the BJP candidates in Wards 7 and 8 particular against outgoing councillor Franky Carvalho, who had challenged each other’s OBC status.
BJP panel’s candidate Santosh Kogaonkar backed by Franky Carvalho lost to Tarak Arolkar in Ward 7 while BJP’s Marlene D’Souza lost to Vikas Arolkar.
“If development has to take place, then both Tarak and Franky will have to work together,” Tanavade said.
Aldona MLA Glenn Tilco and former MMC chairperson Ryan Braganza were also present at the event.
