PONDA: Congress workers in Shiroda are unhappy over the delay in announcing the party candidate for Shiroda by Polls. With the dates for the bypoll election already announced, they worry that without there being a candidate selected, it is an obstacle to begin campaigning in the Assembly constituency.
According to Sushant Gaonkar, Sarpanch of Bethora Panchayat, and supporter of Congress, the leadership’s delay in announcing the candidate will be a disadvantage to party and the candidate will feel the shortage of time.
“The candidate selected will complain saying he will not be able to have a door-to-door campaign in such a short time, “added Gaonkar.
Sources pointed out that Shiroda Constituency is a vast area and just meeting voters with door-to-door visits will not be sufficient as the candidate will have to discuss the voters’ problems at length.
“We have worked hard to rebuild the party after the exit of former Congressman Subash Shirodkar to the BJP. But now if this delay continues, Congress will not get enough time to campaign,” said Sushant.
One of the Congress Block Committee members said that the rival BJP Candidate Subash Shirodkar and MGP Candidate Deepak Dhavalikar had started campaigning Congress is still waiting for the Central leaders to decide the candidate.
Not only Shiroda voters but all Goans have their eyes on Shiroda by-poll because of the ongoing tussle between MGP and BJP over contesting the by-poll.
Sources say that in case of a fresh face, it would be difficult for him to reach to voters in few days’ time.
It may be recalled that there are several aspirants for Congress in Shiroda including newly joined former BJP MLA and ex- Minister for Industries Mahadev Naik.
Meanwhile Sunil Sawkar, the Shiroda Congress Block President, felt that the decision may have been delayed as INC President Rahul Gandhi is very busy in the election campaign all over the country. “The announcement will be made soon, may be on March 24. We have shortlisted six names of aspirants,” said Sawkar.
