PANAJI
Continuing its efforts to rope in politicians ahead of the 2022 assembly polls the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday formally extended an invitation to the lone Independent in its government, Govind Gaude, to join the party.
BJP's State president Sadanand Shet Tanavade said Gaude has been invited to join and assured the party ticket for the upcoming elections expected to be held in February-March.
The decision to induct Gaude, however, has not gone down well with the BJP karyakatas in Priol, who have threatened to field one from amongst them as an Independent in the event that the party nominates the Art and Culture Minister.
The Priol Mandal which met Tanavade and conveyed their sentiment said after the meeting that the party should consider Sandeep Nigalye for candidature at the assembly polls.
Tanavade, however, said that he was confident the Mandal will turn around with the leadership's decision and take the party forward.
Gaude had for the last several months voiced his opinion favouring himself joining the saffron party.
However, the BJP leadership had remained indifferent to Gaude's posturing as it was nursing hopes of striking a pre-poll alliance with the Dhavalikar brothers led Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP). For the latter, Gaude is a staunch rival with the younger Dhavalikar itching to avenge his 2017 defeat to him in Priol.
In the 2017 polls, Gaude had defeated Deepak Dhavalikar handsomely as an Independent after losing very narrowly to him five years earlier in 2012.
Earlier in 2007, he had contested against Sudin Dhavalikar from Marcaim constituency on a Congress ticket.
