PANAJI
Resentment within the BJP in Priol constituency came to the fore when block members opposed the party’s plans to induct Priol’s Independent MLA Govind Gaude into the BJP.
BJP State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade said the BJP would give the ticket to Gaude if he were to join the party.
“BJP workers from Priol need not worry now as Gaude will be contesting on the party ticket,” said Tanavade.
However, this did not go down well among many BJP workers from the Priol constituency.
Block members rushed to the BJP state headquarters in Panaji and demanded that the party ticket be given to Sandip Nigalye.
“Gaude is not from Priol constituency and we don't want a candidate from outside our constituency,” insisted former BJP Priol Block president Satish Madkaikar.
“Sandip Nigalye should be given a ticket. Govind Gaude, who is the minister, had ignored BJP workers during his tenure on grounds that he had not received BJP votes,” said Madkaikar.
According to sources, many party workers have distanced themselves from BJP-backed MLA and Minister Govind Gaude.
Present and former BJP block presidents in Priol have come together to support the party loyalist Sandip Nigalye. A local group formed under the banner of ‘Swabhimani Priolkar’ has indicated its intention to support Nigalye as the independent candidate.
Nigalye has already started campaigning in the constituency with door-to-door visits in the Priol constituency.
“Since the past 15 years, candidates from other constituencies have been getting elected in Priol with the support of BJP. After getting elected, these MLAs have never supported BJP workers. However, this time, there is a need to bring a change and we have now decided to elect Nigalye,” said a BJP worker from Priol.
