PANAJI
Rebel BJP workers from Priol, who have opposed the party’s decision to give the party ticket to former Priol MLA Govind Gaude, have announced their support to Sandeep Nigalye as an independent candidate from Priol.
The disgruntled BJP workers, which included some booth leaders and other workers, convened a news conference to announce their decision.
"We oppose the party’s decision to impose Govind Gaude as a candidate. We will support Nigalye,” said BJP Block President Mahesh Shilkar.
Later, Shilkar said around 150 office-bearers and members of the block and booth level resigned en masse from the primary membership.
Shilkar claimed there are 10,000 primary BJP members in the Priol constituency who will support the candidature of Nigalye.
“Workers have been consistently demanding that the party give the ticket to Nigalye, a well-known personality and a party worker right from the beginning who has worked hard for the growth of the party in the constituency,” Shilkar said.
“In the last elections, the party had asked us to support the independent candidate and so, we supported Gaude which resulted in the defeat of the MGP candidate. However, after elections, Gaude ill-treated BJP workers from our constituency.”
"We went to BJP State president Sadanand Shet Tanavade and demanded that Sandeep Nigalye be given the party ticket for Priol constituency. However, the BJP ignored our demands and announced that Gaude will be given the party ticket. Party leaders have done injustice to BJP workers,” said Shilkar.
“If Gaude wants to boast that he can get elected on his own strength and does not need the support of BJP workers, let him fight the election alone,” added Shilkar.
Nigalye said he would not hesitate to take support of MGP if his supporters permitted him to go ahead with the decision.
“I have been with the BJP for the last 15 years and party workers have toiled hard to promote the BJP in the constituency and I will stand by these workers,” said Nigalye.
