MAPUSA
After failing to get enough numbers in the election to the Mapusa civic body, a desperate BJP is now trying to drive a wedge in the opposition-led panel in a bid to form the council in Mapusa.
Several senior leaders of the BJP have been calling up and approaching the elected candidates from the opposition Mhapshekarancho Ekvott and the two independents.
In fact, even before the last ballot could be counted on Monday, the BJP think-tank was already on the job to identify the vulnerable targets from the opposition camp.
“With our government in power, there is no way the opposition will be able to form the council in Mapusa. We will get the required numbers and hoist the BJP flag in Mapusa municipality,” a confident senior BJP member said.
He further said at least five elected candidates from the opposition panel were in touch with the BJP to join in forming the council.
“People want to rush wherever there is power. But whoever wants to support our panel will have to first join the BJP,” the senior BJP member informed.
Sources informed that the BJP has already opened a communication channel with candidate-elect Shubangi Vaigankar and Viraj Phadke.
Both Vaigankar and Phadke have been elected on the panel of Mhapshekarancho Ekvott from Ward 17 and Ward 16 respectively.
Apart from the attempts to woo candidates of the opposition-backed panel, the saffron party is also in touch with the two Independents “ Prakash Bhivshet and Anand Bhaidkar “ who were elected to the council.
“We are ready to form the council anytime. We are in touch with a majority of the councillors. They are all interested to join us,” said Joshua D’Souza, Mapusa MLA.
Finding themselves on the back foot, the leadership of Mhapshekarancho Ekvott is trying its best to hold its flock together.
Former chairperson and the leader of ME Sudhir Kandolkar chaired a meeting with all the nine elected candidates at an undisclosed destination on Tuesday afternoon.
Kandolkar admitted that there was intense pressure on his candidates from the ruling BJP leadership.
“Even the chief minister has been making calls to the elected candidates from the opposition to win them over to the BJP. So far, we are together and we are not giving up hopes,” said Kandolkar.
