SANGUEM: Consequent to the withdrawal of four nominations from among eleven candidates, the Rivona constituency is all set for a straight contest between BJP and Congress.
While BJP supporters had expected major hurdle for their official candidate Suresh Datta Kepekar with the filing of nomination by another BJP stalwart Bhavesh Zambaulikar, that fear has passed off with Zambaulikar withdrawing from the fray.
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Zambaulikar had filed his nomination after being denied the party ticket. However, he now claims that he has settled all his differences with the party and consequently withdrawn from the fray.
Staring that he did not withdraw on pressure from the top leaders, Zambaulikar said he would rally behind the party candidate and work in the areas allocated to him by the party leaders.
The others who withdrew from the fray were Independents Jose Alfonso, Vishal Naik and Anil Kakodkar. However, their withdrawal is unlikely to impact the voting pattern.
With the latest development, BJP candidate Suresh Datta Kepekar, who is supported by ex-MLA Sanguem Subhash Phaldessai, will have a straight fight with Congress candidate Abhijit Desai.
Desai is likely to face difficulties as Josinho D’Costa, a Congress rebel, is in the race.
D’Costa was denied the party ticket at the last minute. Hence, he filed his nomination form as an Independent at the last minute and has not withdrawn from the fray as of now.
However, it is expected that D’Costa may withdraw from the fray at the last minute or probably on Monday.
The others in the fray are Sandeep Ganesh Naik of Aam Admi Party, Rupesh Mahadev Gaonkar of MGP and Gajanan Raikar and Sudhakar Gaonkar as Independents. Raikar enjoys the support of MLA Prasad Gaonkar and is expected to cause little damage to the voting pattern of BJP candidate Suresh Datta Kepekar.
