MAPUSA
Although candidates with varied political affiliations have come together and for the first time in recent history put up a panel for the civic election in Mapusa, the opposition is facing a credibility crisis of sorts in the commercial town in Bardez.
The opposition panel “ Mhapshekarancho Ekvott (ME) “ was put together by former chairpersons Sudhir Kandolkar, Subhash Narvekar, Michael Carrasco and ex-councillor and MGP points-man in Mapusa, Vinod Phadke.
For all-purpose, Sudhir Kandolkar calls the shots and is the de facto leader of the opposition panel.
Although Kandolkar is currently with Congress having unsuccessfully contested the Mapusa by-election, he still carries the baggage of being close to the BJP.
In fact, a section of the BJP executive still maintains a good equation with him and could make grounds to get him back in their fold.
The general perception in political circles is that after emerging victorious in the civic election, the opposition candidates will either join or support the ruling BJP panel to form the council.
“For almost 20 years, Sudhir Kandolkar was with the BJP. He will never be able to wipe off his proximity with the saffron party. In such a situation, it is but natural that after winning the municipal election he may join the BJP and form the council,” said Ratnapal Salkar, a retired teacher from Mapusa and a keen political observer.
NCP General Secretary Sanjay Barde was more forthcoming and called the opposition panel the ‘B’ team of BJP.
“How can we ever think of ever joining Mhapshekarancho Ekvott when the main leader of the group is hobnobbing with the BJP? It is as clear as water that Kandolkar along with his opposition panel will join the BJP soon after the election result,” said Barde, who has floated the Shree Bodgeshwar Development Front panel for the civic election.
Incidentally, former chief minister, Laxmikant Parsekar recently disclosed that some opposition candidates were ready to join the BJP to form the council in Mapusa after the election.
“While moving around with our candidates in Mapusa, I met at least five candidates from the opposition who claimed they would win in their wards but would join us to form the council,” said Parsekar, who is the observer of BJP’s panel, Mapusa Development Front.
According to former chairperson Subhash Narvekar, the opposition could have organised themselves in a better way.
“We should have handled the entire election campaign in a better way to attract voters towards us,” said Narvekar, who has fielded his son in Ward 5.
He admitted that some people from the opposition panel were capable of switching sides after the election.
“Sudhir is a good man but we have to admit he has the BJP taint on him,” Narvekar confessed.
