Team Herald
PANJIM: Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) has finalised 13 candidates of the total 16 it intends to field in the 2017 Assembly elections. BBSM is also gearing up to go to the polls alone, following a lack of response from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP).
At its executive committee meeting on Sunday, BBSM decided to contest election from 16 constituencies. “The manch has shortlisted 13 candidates who will contest the upcoming elections,” a senior BBSM leader said refusing to disclose the names of the candidates. “Let us first announce our political outfit on October 2. After that we will announce candidates,” the leader said, adding that the other three names would be finalised in the run up to the election campaign.
Speaking about the proposed alliance with Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, he said the Manch is gearing up to go solo for the polls as MGP appears to be reluctant to form an alliance.
“We have set September 30 as a deadline to the MGP to break its ties with BJP and have alliance with us. But till date there is no response,” he said.
MGP leader and PWD Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar had recently ruled out the possibility of aligning with the BBSM stating that the manch should not venture into politics.
BBSM, which has been fighting for grants to regional language as the Medium of Instruction (MoI) has decided to take up casino, corruption and other issues in their campaign.
