Allegations over matka business and development in constituency trigger early election sparring
MAPUSA
With the Goa Assembly elections around nine months away, the political climate in Tivim has intensified, marked by a sharp exchange between BJP MLA and Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar and former MLA Kiran Kandolkar.
The clash began after Halarnkar allegedly accused Kandolkar of links to the illegal matka gambling network and said he was exposing youngsters to harmful habits, including tobacco use.
Kandolkar hit back, saying the minister was avoiding questions on development in Tivim and instead making personal allegations. “Whenever we ask about development work in Tivim, he only talks about matka. If he believes I am involved, I challenge him to stop it in Tivim,” he said.
He also alleged that Halarnkar was in “flight mode” and unable to list achievements from his tenure.
A week earlier, Halarnkar had accused Kandolkar of promoting illegal gambling and corrupting youth through addictive substances.
Kandolkar countered that if matka was thriving, responsibility lay with the State government. “If matka is flourishing, the minister is indirectly blaming his own government and the Chief Minister, who holds the Home portfolio,” he said.
He added that tobacco-related concerns fall under Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, arguing that Halarnkar’s remarks reflected poorly on the government’s performance. “The Chief Minister, Health Minister and the BJP should seek answers from the Fisheries Minister for making such allegations,” Kandolkar added.
The political face-off is significant as Tivim is expected to see a close contest in the 2027 Assembly elections. Halarnkar retained the seat in 2022 on a BJP ticket, defeating Kavita Kandolkar, wife of Kiran Kandolkar, who contested on a Trinamool Congress ticket.
In the same election, Kiran Kandolkar unsuccessfully contested from Aldona as a TMC candidate. Since then, he has distanced himself from the party and has not joined any political outfit.
Speculation continues over his future, with indications he may seek a BJP ticket from Tivim if Halarnkar is denied renomination. Otherwise, he may align with Opposition forces to stage a political comeback.
This ongoing rivalry has further polarised local party workers in Tivim with supporters of both leaders actively defending their respective positions on social media and in public gatherings ahead of election season in the Tivim constituency.
