Team Herald
MARGAO: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bhai Naik openly declaring support to Congress MLA Digambar Kamat, and opting out from the race of Margao poll fray by aspirant candidate of BJP Desh Prabhudesai, leaves BJP at a tight spot ahead of polls to select the candidate in Margao to give a tough fight to the Leader of Opposition.
Many BJP workers feel that there is need of guts to take up the challenge of fighting against Kamat united, which Prabhudesi failed in.
Seeing the recent political developments in BJP Margao with regard to selecting candidates has created a confusing situation amongst the local leaders and supporters. The opting out from the poll fray by Desh Prabhudesai has further exposed the internal differences of the party leaders.
Prabhudesai, whom BJP assumed a strong candidate to fight against Kamat, decided to opt out from the race citing factionalism in the party. Earlier, taking strong objections on choosing Prabhudesai as the right candidate against the Congress MLA, Naik had openly declared his support to the Digambar.
Speaking to Herald one of the local BJP leaders and former Councillor of Margao Municipal Council (MMC) Ketan Kurtarkar said Prabhudesai should have taken the challenge to fight in the elections.
“Backing out from the race only proves the failures and his weaknesses. Actually he failed to unite all the party workers and supporters, if he feels that there is factionalism,” said Kurtarkar.
He further said that there is no shortage of leaders to contest the elections in Margao, but we want a candidate who can give edge to Kamat.
“Party will surely select another candidate in Margao, and being a loyal soldier of the BJP we will work hard to win in Margao,”said Kurtarkar.
Rupesh Mahatme, who is another local leader of the party, said that there will be no difficulties to choose a new candidate in Margao for the assembly election, as there are hundred more leaders ready to take up the challenge in the commercial city.
“We will work for the candidate which will be selected by the party. Being a party worker we have not been informed formally that Desh Prabhudesai has opted out from the election fray, as we came to know only through the media,” said Mahatme.
