Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) announced Dr Ketan Bhatikar as their candidate in Panjim replacing Krishnaraj (Raju) Sukerkar who will not be contesting due to health reasons.
Clarifying on the removal of Sukerkar as the party’s Panjim candidate, GSM President Anand Shirodkar said it was a decision of the party workers who felt Sukerkar should not contest due to health reasons.
“Sukerkar has still now not told party that he doesn’t want to contest from Panjim. In fact, it is a decision of our cadre that he should be replaced because of his health,” Shirodkar said.
Shirodkar said that Sukerkar has consented to the party’s decision of replacing him with Bhatikar and he would campaign for the party and the Panjim candidate.
Bhatikar who was part of BBSM and later joined GSM was actively involved with the RSS since childhood. He said he spoke to Sukerkar on Friday night and Sukerkar told him he would accompany him while filing his nomination.
Sukerkar was North Goa RSS Chief before he resigned from the post after Subhash Velingkar was relieved by the Sangh. He is a resident of Panjim and familiar face in BJP strongholds.
Panjim is important for GSM as it has been represented by BJP Manohar Parrikar from 1994 to 2014 when he was inducted in the Union cabinet.
