VASCO: Giving a new twist to politics in the port town of Vasco, industrialist Narayan Bandekar alias Nana who is also chairman of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) said that if the people of Vasco want he will contest the next assembly elections. He also claimed that it is he who was first in Vasco and then the BJP.
Speaking to the media on the October 25 municipal elections and the bitterness in the relationship between him and the BJP due to the polls and whether the differences would continue in the next Assembly elections Bandekar said, “It is a known fact that Nana came first and then BJP came in Vasco. Therefore it is Nana versus BJP in Vasco for the municipal elections. Also if the people want then I will contest the Assembly elections.”
Bandekar’s entry into politics would disturb the calculations of Vasco’s politicians as incumbent MLA Carlos Almeida has been working hard to ensure that his panel gets elected with a majority in the municipal polls hoping that this will help him in the next Assembly elections.
Former Vasco MLA Jose Philip D’Souza had come close to Bandekar as the latter was instrumental in ensuring D’Souza’s defeat by backing Almeida. But, if Bandekar contests the Assembly polls, it would lead to a changed political scenario in the port town.
Commenting on floating his own panel, Bandekar said, “One should understand that there was no BJP panel in the last term. It was first my panel ruling MMC and I brought development through MMC but after three-and-half years some councillors did not follow my instructions and I kept distance from them as they started joining BJP. Now, I am back with new and a few old faces, and this time I will get my panel elected so that there should be stability and will fulfill pending development projects.”
