the goan I network
CANACONA
Former minister Ramesh Tawadkar, who has already announced his candidature to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, is all set to embark on a different kind of campaign in South Goa from Wednesday.
Tawadkar, who is organizing chairman of 18th edition of Lukosthav-2017, has chalked out an elaborate strategy to promote the Lukosthav at Amone-Poinguinim on December 2-3 by organising various awareness programmes in South Goa from November 1 to 15.
But sources said Tawadkar is not likely to miss this opportunity to mobilise support for his political campaign.
Addressing media persons on Sunday, Tawadkar was asked if he would use these awareness programmes in South Goa to further his presence in the district ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
"At present, My visits to these talukas is only to create awareness for the Lukosthav and to get maximum participation, well beyond the 50,000-odd people who generally visit the Lukosthav in Canacona. The rest (about my so-called campaigning for the Lok Sabha Polls) is for the media to speculate," Tawadkar said.
When reminded that previous Lukosthav events were at the state and inter-state level, while this edition was restricted to South Goa, thereby fuelling speculations that he was focusing on the Lok Sabha polls, Tawadkar replied: "I have already announced my candidature for 2019 Lok Sabha polls and I cannot deny it. But we have chosen only South Goa this time to get maximum participation form the district." "I will accompany the committee during meetings in different talukas, wherever possible."
Providing details about his awareness programmes in South Goa, Tawadkar said: "The aim is to get maximum registrations from village leaders, women, and the youth. The two-day Lukosthav 2017 will have special events for these three specified groups to bring all-around village development."
"Five talukas will be taken up by a 15-member committee from the Canacona-based Adarsh Yuva Sangh, Balram Education Society, Gaondongrim Collective Farmers Society and Khotigao Collective Farmers Society as the joint organizers of Lukosthav-2017."
"They will enrol 35-40 local members each from Sanguem, Quepem, Darbondora, Ponda and Canacona and form 50-member committees for each taluka," he added.
Tawadkar, who reconfirmed the presence of veteran social activist Anna Hazare as chief guest for the Lukosthav, said other prominent personalities will also be present at the two-day event.
