Team Herald
PANJIM: And there was one. Faced with a series of rejections to the Congress offer of a ticket to contest against Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in the Panjim by-polls, the party, like a harassed suitor, called upon AICC Secretary Girish Chodankar to be that one good man to come to the aid of the party, Chodankar has agreed, “if the party feels and after the proper process is carried out”.
But, as always there’s another twist in this sordid tale. State Congress President Shantaram Naik appears to be hesitant in fielding a South Goa leader in the North.
But even to reach to the stage of Chodankar agreeing if all else fails, the Congress had a terrible time. BJP ex-mayor Ashok Naik, who was spoken of as a contender for the GSM ticket in the February 2017 Assembly elections, ultimately spurned the offer, with many supporters asking him not to contest on the Congress ticket, taking the list of rejections to four and if you add Ramakant Khalap’s firm disinterest even though he wasn’t made a firm offer, the number goes up to five. (See box for a full low down of rejections which included the good Doctor from AAP, Dr Oscar Rebello)
Congress over the
weekend appeared confident that Naik, a BJP founder in Goa who quit the party, would jump into the fray on a Congress ticket. His refusal on Monday evening, after their first choice Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate joined Goa Forward, left the party red-faced and struggling to find a winnable candidate.
Congress sources said Chodankar, a former Youth Congress leader, is likely to be party’s candidate to challenge Parrikar. “Adv Yatish Naik and Ramakant Khalap have declined the offer. The High Command has recommended Girish’s name. He is also willing to accept it,” sources said. It is learnt that the party’s State General Secretary Sunil Kawthankar is lobbying for the ticket.
When contacted, Chodankar said he is ready to take up any responsibility the party offers. “Yes, I am being consulted by the party high command as a candidate. As a loyal soldier, I have no issue in taking up the challenge,” he said, adding that the people of Panjim and Goa are fed up of Parrikar and are looking for a change.
However, GPCC Chief Naik is of the view that the candidate in Panjim should be from North Goa. “We need a candidate who will be accepted by the people of Panjim. Hence, we need to look for a face from North Goa, but then the final decision will be taken by the High Command. They can field anyone from any of the 40 Assembly constituencies,” he told media persons.
“There are two-three names being discussed. I will consult with the Congress Legislative Party and send the same for AICC approval,” Naik said, adding that by Tuesday morning the party will announce its candidates for Panjim and Valpoi constituencies.
Khalap declined to accept the party’s proposal stating he is ‘not interested at this stage’. Speaking to Herald, Khalap said an election is not a joke and things cannot take shape at the last minute. “I am not interested,” he said.
For Valpoi, Congress has zeroed in on MLA Ravi Naik’s son Roy to take on BJP Minister Vishwajit Rane.
The nomination process will end on August 5.
