CANACONA
An unusual situation has unfolded in Canacona, with virtually all candidates contesting the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) polls pledging allegiance to the BJP, according to leaders in the Canacona BJP block.
While the absence of a rival panel may be a huge advantage to the BJP, it is likely to face a challenge in finalising its panel, given the fact that the candidates have pledged loyalty to three different BJP leaders in the taluka.
Canacona BJP Mandal President Nandip Bhagat has claimed that the party’s efforts to declare a BJP panel at the CMC polls has turned out to be far more difficult than anticipated, with all contesting candidates claiming loyalty to the BJP.
“Even, the well-known Congress workers who till recently were ready to vouch for Congress are no more willing to say they are Congressman. They are either willing to provide a BJP membership number or are even ready to fill the BJP membership form,” said Bhagat.
“All contestants want to be named in the BJP panel and as a result, we don't have any candidates contesting the CMC polls from a rival panel,” replied Bhagat, when asked if BJP had finalised its panel for the CMC polls.
There are 31 candidates contesting elections in 12 wards of CMC.
Incidentally, the Canacona BJP block already convened a meeting with three taluka BJP leaders, Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes, former minister Ramesh Tawadkar and former MLA Vijay Poi Khot.
The meeting, however, remained inconclusive as all three leaders had different names of candidates for the BJP panel.
“A second meeting may take place shortly to decide on a panel. I have been entrusted to collect details of contesting candidates, but given the fact that most candidates claim allegiance to the BJP, it may be difficult to declare a BJP panel for the CMC polls.’
“The contest, if at all, seems to be from within the BJP itself,” added Bhagat.
According to sources, the candidates are split into three groups loyal to Fernandes, Tawadkar and Khot.
Loyalists of Fernandes were earlier Congress workers, but have continued to support Fernandes when he joined the BJP. Fernandes is keen to have them in the BJP panel.
The second group of candidates are close to Tawadkar and have stepped up demands to be in the panel, now that Tawadkar is BJP state vice-president and Tawadkar is backing their inclusion in the panel.
The third group of candidates are those who had worked for BJP during the last assembly elections with former MLA Vijay Poi Khot and want to be recognised in the BJP panel.
When contacted, Dy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes informed that the BJP would definitely form a panel of candidates for the CMC elections.
