More importantly, sources said that the Congress St Cruz MLA Atanasio Monserrate may not contest as an Independent candidate from Panjim if BJP does not nominate Kunkolienkar.
The Panjim constituency has been dominated by the BJP with Manohar Parrikar at the helm since he first got elected in 1994. After Parrikar resigned as chief minister and Panjim MLA, BJP is struggling to find a credible replacement candidate who will retain this seat for the party.
With no strong candidate to take on Congress and others candidates, Kunkolienkar, who was Joint Secretary to the Chief Minister, remains the front runner.
BJP workers, however, are unhappy with Kunkolienkar who, according to them, cannot be looked upon as an alternative to Parrikar. During the recently held BJP convention, the workers had appealed to Parrikar to select a candidate who is people friendly and easily approachable.
“Siddharth is a good worker but he cannot be a good leader. It was very difficult to get in touch with him when he was Joint Secretary to Chief Minister. If he becomes MLA, it will be worse,” a senior BJP worker said, requesting anonymity.
Another senior BJP leader from Panjim feels that Kunkolienkar cannot fill the vacuum created by Parrikar’s elevation to the Union cabinet. “No one can replace ‘Bhai’, but we want someone who will be there for the people of Panjim as and when they need him,” he said.
While the workers have expressed their desire, the party leaders’ claim that they have not finalized any name for the Panjim ticket, and that views of the workers will be considered before short listing the candidate.
“We are yet to finalize any name. Manohar Parrikar has said that the candidate will be announced on December 12. We will wait till then,” party president Vinay Tendulkar said.
Parrikar, who has been shuttling between New Delhi and Goa often over the last one month has been given the responsibility to choose his successor. He has already said that the party is looking for a candidate like him, who will have contact with the masses. Not just within BJP, but Monserrate too has thrown the ball in the BJP court. Sources close to Monserrate say he may not contest if BJP denies the ticket to Kunkolienkar. The Congress MLA had announced that he would resign as St Cruz MLA and contest as an Independent.
