Team Herald
PANJIM: In a bid to have a level playing field for the ensuing Panjim by-elections, Congress candidate Girish Chodankar has requested BJP candidate Manohar Parrikar to resign as Chief Minister of Goa and as Rajya Sabha MP from UP and contest as a common man.
“I am fighting the election as a common man and as a Congress candidate. But Parrikar is contesting as Chief Minister and Member of Parliament. That means he is fighting with full force and backing from State and Central government. I am not that powerful,” Chodankar told media persons.
“My sincere request to Parrikar is that he should resign as CM and MP and fight the election as a common man, just as a BJP candidate. This will ensure a level playing field in the by election,” Chodankar said.
He added that he has already started his door-to-door campaign in the constituency and claimed to be receiving a good response. “I don’t have a specific strategy to fight against Parrikar except for normal door-to-door campaign,” he said.
“I am a new face to the people of Panjim and the voters are also new to me. Still I am trying my best and getting a good response,” the AICC leader said.
He said the by-election is a fight of the people of Panjim against Parrikar and that he is just an instrument.
Raising objections to the government decision to initiate an inquiry against social activist Kashinath Shetye, Chodankar demanded that the activist should have instead been rewarded by the government for his work.
