CANACONA
Former minister and four-time MLA Isidore Fernandes, along with 15 of his prominent supporters, on Wednesday joined the Goa Forward Party (GFP) ahead of the Zilla Panchayat polls in the State.
GFP President Vijai Sardesai personally inducted Fernandes and his 15 supporters, including a councillor and prominent social activist Shubham Komarpant, at a special induction ceremony at the Shristhal panchayat hall on Wednesday.
Sardesai welcomed Fernandes with a handshake, put a party shawl around his shoulder and handed a coconut (party symbol) to Isidore.
Stating he had long forgotten the differences that cropped up between Sardesai and himself (particularly during and after Fernandes’ switch from Congress to BJP) during the last term, Fernandes praised Sardesai as one of the formidable MLAs who take Goans at heart and sincerely work for the benefit of the people of the State.
Hitting out at the Sports Minister and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar, Fernandes claimed that several works, including the Krishi Ghar, fire station complex, and pipeline from Gaunem dam, which were initiated by him during his last tenure as MLA, could not be completed by Tawadkar despite occupying important positions, including the post of Speaker.
“The present MLA has no vision for Canacona. He could not bring a single sports ground despite being a sports minister,” said Fernandes.
GFP Canacona Block president Pandurang (Datta) Gaonkar, GFP General Secretaries Mohandas Lolienkar, Prashant Naik, newly inducted member Shubham Komarpant, and Dr Cajy D’Silva spoke on the occasion, while GFP Environment Cell Chairman Vikas Bhagat compered the induction ceremony.
In the past, Isidore Fernandes had contested as a Congress, BJP and independent candidate in the Canacona and erstwhile Poinguinim constituencies in Canacona taluka and went on to become MLA four times. He served as minister, while also holding the post of deputy speaker for two-and-a-half years during his last term as MLA.
