TEAM HERALD
CANACONA: Banking on cracks within the ruling BJP on the local front, a determined opposition is all set to exploit the situation and win both ZP seats from Canacona for the independents.
BJP Canacona unit has been hit by widespread dissent within the party rank and file, with some party workers openly revolting and canvassing for independent candidates.
Its campaign trail, which received a short in the arm after Saturday’s series of corner meetings addressed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, seems to have enabled them to project their brave face to the current situation.
“Fearing low turnout, one of Parrikar’s meetings in Agonda had to be shifted from the earlier planned location to the residence of a party functionary, after Parrikar reached the village after addressing Khola electorate,” said a source.
According to sources, Canacona MLA Vijay Poi Khot is openly supporting Pranali Prabhugaonkar (Poinguinim) and Shanu Velip (Khola).
Sources also told Herald that efforts by BJP bigwigs, Vinay Tendulkar and South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar, to win back few disgruntled activists have been unsuccessful.
Taking on Tawadkar’s claim of not finding a suitable candidate to fight incumbent Krishna Velip in Khola, Isidore Fernandes sought to know whether BJP faced similar situation in Poinguinim as the face put up by BJP is a political novice having no social standing with the electorate, while Khola’s Shanu Velip is a former ZP having grassroots connection with the masses.
Poinguinim’s BJP candidate Dr Puspa Aiya is left with only a handful of BJP workers accompanying her during the campaign after the exit of many BJP stalwarts and the likes of Satish Paiginkar, who is backing Pranali.
Similar situation has arisen for Khola BJP candidate Krishna Velip after saffron workers deserted him, compelling even Sports Minister and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar to reportedly abandon few public addresses scheduled in Agonda, Shristhal and Betul-Naqueri, informed sources.
