Team Herald
PANJIM: With less than four weeks to the Assembly elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is struggling to settle disputes in four seats that it currently holds – Pernem, Mayem, Sanvordem and Canacona – are the problem areas for the party.
On Friday, the BJP election committee finalised candidates for 21 constituencies but not for these four controversial ones.
Herald understands that the SEC meeting, held in the absence of Chairman Vinay Tendulkar, was chaired by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, in the presence of AYUSH minister Shripad Naik, CM Laxmikant Parsekar, MP Narendra Sawaikar besides other members.
Pernem tensed
Pernem MLA Rajendra Arlekar was present for the SEC meeting but surprisingly his candidature was not finalised.
The issue is that besides Arlekar, there are two other names that have come forward from Pernem – Councillor Siddesh Pednekar and Shyam Dhargalkar – and to avoid a split in the party, the committee is delaying naming the candidate. Sources say party leaders are also a bit skeptical of naming Arlekar on the winnability factor.
Speaker could be muted in Mayem
Assembly Speaker Anant Shet could be left out from the candidate list, BJP sources reveal.
Sources say the core committee has had talks with the Mayem mandal convincing them to accept Pravin Zantye as the leader. However, a final decision is expected to be taken on January 9. Zantye is expected to join BJP soon but the move is being opposed by the Mayem mandal.
BJP caught between Ramesh and Vijay
In Canacona, there is a tussle for the BJP ticket between Sports minister Ramesh Tawadkar and former MLA Vijay Pai Khot.
Tawadkar feels he is the only candidate while former MLA Vijay Pai Khot says he is still hopeful of getting a party ticket. Interestingly, both Tawadkar and Vijay have started campaigning saying they are BJP candidates. The recent FIR against Tawadkar is also an indication which way the wind is blowing.
Tendulkar may run out Ganesh
The BJP is still to finalise the candidate in Sanvordem as there are two claimants for the ticket.
BJP State President Vinay Tendulkar has already begun working in the constituency and has been vying for the ticket. Sources in the party say that MLA Ganesh Gaonkar may be sidelined. However, the local mandal wants the ticket for the sitting MLA.
Cumbharjua puzzle
Besides these four constituencies, the BJP could also face a revolt in Cumbharjua constituency. While BJP has imported Congress MLA Pandurang Madkaikar into the party, MP Shripad Naik’s son Siddesh is also vying for the party ticket from the constituency and says he is still hopeful of candidature.
