PANJIM: Struggling to emerge from the crisis it has been plunged into, after Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate, its probably candidate in Panjim joined the Goa Forward Party, the Congress has approached one of the founders of the BJP, Ashok Naik, to take on Manohar Parrikar in the Panjim by-election.
Congress will announce its candidates for the Panjim and Valpoi by-polls on Monday. The party is making efforts to field Ashok Naik as a consensus candidate in Panjim with the support of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM), for a straight fight. In Valpoi, Ponda MLA Ravi Naik’s son Roy is the most likely candidate.
“The candidature of Ashok Naik is almost finalised. He is most likely to join the party on Monday. Naik has been BJP face for past 20-25 years,” a senior Congress leader said.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Shantaram Naik also confirmed that Ashok Naik’s candidature is under consideration.
“The party will field its own candidates in both constituencies, and the parties willing to defeat BJP should join the hands with us,” Shantaram Naik said, adding that talks are yet to begin with any party, but Congress will welcome support.
When contacted, Ashok Naik confirmed that the Congress has offered him the ticket and he is considering the proposal positively. “Congress has approached me with the offer to contest in Panjim by-election. I met their leaders. I have told them that I will consult my supporters and well wishers and get back on Monday,” he said. He claimed there are several BJP workers supporting him.
Ashok Naik was offered the ticket by Congress in February 2015 for the by-election against BJP’s Siddharth Kuncolienkar, but he had declined. He was again spoken of as the GSM candidate in the February 2017 election.
Ashok Naik had a lengthy meeting with AICC Secretary and Goa desk in charge Dr Chellakumar and the State Party President on Friday evening and Saturday morning, following which his candidature was almost finalised. “He is the only candidate we feel can give a fight to Parrikar. We have already received indirect support from GSM for Naik’s candidature,” the Congress leader said.
When contacted, GSM President Anand Shirodkar said, “We are ready to work out any plan or strategy to defeat Manohar Parrikar in Panjim constituency.”
However, GSM Vice-President Kiran Nayak, along with office bearers Mahesh Mhambre and Hridaynath Shirodkar, met Shantaram in the Congress House on Saturday. “We requested Congress not to field a candidate but support GSM to avoid vote split,” Nayak said.
Efforts are also on to convince AAP to support the Congress and not field a candidate. “Elvis Gomes was the Commissioner when Ashok Naik was City Mayor. They are in good relations. Ashok Naik is in talks with Gomes over the issue,” Congress leader said.
AAP had initially announced it would field its February 4 Assembly election candidate Valmiki Naik in the constituency. “We are yet to decide whether to contest the by-election and who will be our candidate,” Gomes told Herald, when contacted.
Ashok Naik, former Panjim Mayor and president of the BJP Panjim Mandal, had tendered his resignation from the party on November 28, 2016. Known for his sincerity in public life, Naik was with the BJP for 25 years. The resignation from the party was a protest against BJP government declining to grant Marathi official language status.
Ashok Naik was the BJP face in the Panjim Municipal Council and later when it was upgraded to the Corporation of City of Panaji. “I was a founder member of the BJP in Goa and despite being four times mandal president and Panjim Mayor for one term I managed to keep my image clean. I received several offers from various parties. Even during the by-polls I was offered the chance to contest against Siddharth Kuncolienkar but I refused like a loyal soldier,” he said.
Ashok Naik entered Congress House on Saturday evening with some supporters, including some Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) members.
