PANJIM: Resentment has started brewing in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after it declared the final list of six candidates on Thursday for the February 14 Goa Assembly polls.
BJP State vice president Anil Hoble and Zilla Panchayat (ZP) member Siddhesh Naik, son of Union Minister Shripad Naik, expressed their unhappiness over the denial of tickets. Hoble said that he will quit the party and contest the elections.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The party renominated sitting MLA Antonio (Tony) Fernandes in St Cruz seat and fielded Old Goa sarpanch Janita Madkaikar, wife of sitting MLA Pandurang Madkaikar from Cumbarjua constituency. The party is learnt to have denied ticket to five-time MLA Pandurang Madkaikar on health grounds.
When contacted, Hoble expressed his displeasure over the denial of ticket to contest from St Cruz. He alleged that the State BJP is being run by a coterie of five people who were controlling all the affairs.
“I have been elected as vice president on three occasions. There are five vice presidents and a few days back the party also appointed former Minister Dilip Parulekar as the sixth vice president. But as vice presidents we have no role to play and we are there only for namesake,” he said.
“BJP claims to be a party with a difference. But it is now a party with all differences,” he quipped.
Hoble said that he will resign from the primary membership of the BJP on Thursday and contest from St Cruz constituency.
Asked whether he will contest as an independent or on another party symbol, Hoble hinted that he might contest on a party symbol. “I have offers from political parties which have even finalised their candidate for the seat. I will disclose it on Thursday,” he said.
On the other hand, Siddhesh Naik also expressed his disappointment over the denial of party ticket. A large number of his supporters and party workers rushed to his house and forced him to quit the party and top enter the poll fray as an independent candidate.
The ruling BJP has been hit hard with desertions, with as many as seven sitting MLAs resigning over the denial of party tickets to recontest the election.
