Team Herald
PANJIM: With little over 48 hours for the filing of nomination to end, BJP is yet to finalize its candidate for the upcoming by-poll in Panjim, the State’s capital which has been ruled by the BJP for 25 years.
The ruling party has found itself in an embarrassing situation as, for the very first time there is difference in opinion over the candidature. The constituency won by BJP since 1994 already has three other political parties – Congress, Aam Admi Party and Goa Suraksha Manch fielding their candidates.
Sources said that the party’s central committee in Delhi was expected to declare its decision between late chief minister Manohar Parrikar’s son Utpal and Sidharth Kuncalienker on Saturday, but the decision is postponed.
“We are hopeful the decision is made by Sunday morning so that there is no hurry in filing of the nomination,” said the party source.
The delayed decision is attributed to infighting within the party over the allotment of ticket as one group strongly backs Utpal to carry forward his father’s legacy, while another group has been demanding ticket to Sidharth considering that he had sacrificed his seat to pave way for his ‘mentor’ Manohar Parrikar to contest by-poll in 2017. Party sources said that Sidharth is a strong contender but an official announcement will clear all speculations.
Atanasio Monserrate (Congress) and Valmiki Naik (AAP) have already filed their nominations on Friday while GSM’s Subhash Velingkar will complete the formalities on the last day of filing of nominations on Monday.
