TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: After a day of hectic developments the Nationalist Congress Party appears likely to settle for Canacona seat in exchange for giving the Mayem seat to the Congress.
The proposal which has been accepted by NCP state leadership is now “being discussed” by NCP high command and is likely to be accepted.
Speaking to Herald, Avinash Bhosle NCP spokesperson disclosed that as part of the deal, Congress will give the NCP both the seat and the candidate — Vijay Pai Khot.
Earlier, there was a tussle between NCP and Congress over the Cortalim seat with both the parties refusing to back down from demanding the seat. However, NCP relented and was given the Mayem seat instead.
But since NCP did not have a base in Mayem and secondly both Rudresh Chodankar and Ravi Naik’s son Roy Naik were gunning for the Mayem Congress ticket, NCP decided to instead give Mayem back to the Congress and instead have a “friendly fight” for the Cortalim seat. This proposal was however shot down by the Congress High Command.
After many meetings and discussions the Congress has proposed that their MLA Vijay Pai Khot be allowed to contest on the NCP ticket.
“This decision is being discussed by the NCP High Command. They will convey their decision Sunday morning and then Vijay Pai Khot will join NCP,” Bhosle disclosed.
Khot, when contacted refused to say anything “I will talk tomorrow,” that is all he told Herald.
NCP High Command is also yet to decide on the candidate for the Mapusa, and Porvorim assembly constituencies which they are also expected to convey to the local unit Sunday.
While State president Surendra Sirsat almost seems to be out of the race for the ticket, sources say, Armin Braganza and Ashish Shirodkar are front-runners for the ticket.
Meanwhile, former NCP spokesperson Trajano D’Mello quit the NCP after he was denied a ticket in favour of Suresh Parulekar and has already filed his nomination as an independent from the Saligao constituency. Trajano had joined the NCP after Dr Willy quit the party in the hope that he would be given the NCP ticket.
