PANJIM: The fight for the Canacona BJP ticket appears to be going down to the wire with both aspirants, Ramesh Tawadkar and Vijay Pai Khot, refusing to give way.
Sources in the BJP say that the Core Committee, which met supporters, has zeroed in on former MLA Khot. However, Tawadkar, who is also the Sports Minister, is not likely to give up easily.
BJP General Secretary Sadanand Shet Tanawade, when contacted, refused to comment on this saying the tickets will now be finalised by the Parliamentary Board. “The State Election Committee has sent the names to the Parliamentary Board which is expected to release the first list in the next two days,” he said.
In another interesting development, sources say, BJP has decided to field State unit President Vinay Tendulkar in Ponda thus paving the way for sitting MLA Ganesh Gaonkar in Sanvordem.
In Margao, Bhai Naik has been cleared as candidate, over BJYM president Sharmad Pai Raiturkar who was also vying for the ticket.
The other names shortlisted by the core committee are: Quepem – Prakash Velip; Poriem – Vishwajit K Rane; St Andre – Ramrao Wagh; Marcaim – Pradeep Shet.
