Valpoi by-poll: Haldankar files nomination

Valpoi by-poll: Haldankar files nomination
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
VALPOI, SEPT 28
BJP candidate Santosh Haldankar, brother of former deputy speaker Narhari Haldankar, on Tuesday filed his nomination papers for the October 18 bye-election for Valpoi constituency.
Santosh filed his nomination papers before Returning Officer Raju Gawas, who was assisted by Mamlatdar Satish Dessai and Joint Mamlatdar Trupti Rane.
Santosh was accompanied by Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar, Laxmikant Parsekar, Govind Parvatkar, Vinay Tendulkar, Narhari Haldankar, Narayan Gawas, D Gaonkar and Promod Sawant, besides many BJP workers from Sattari, who were waiting outside the mamlatdar’s office at Valpoi.
Speaking to media persons, Santosh confidently stated that BJP has accepted the challenge of Congress candidate Vishwajeet Rane, who according to Santosh had said that BJP will be wiped out from Valpoi after the election results.
“BJP has started canvassing and people of Valpoi constituency are fully convinced with the issues on which BJP is fighting election. Our issues include illegal mining, corruption and employment problem,” claimed Santosh.
Manohar Parrikar criticised the Kamat-led government for misleading the people and forcing early election on the people of Valpoi.
“If Vishwajeet had not resigned, then the question of this by-poll would not have arisen,” said Parrikar.
Meanwhile, according to sources, no candidate has filed nomination papers as independent candidate till Tuesday.
With the BJP candidate filing nomination papers, only two nominations are received by the returning officer till date, besides dummy candidates.
Congress candidate Vishwajeet Rane filed his nomination papers on September 23. However, rumours are doing round that independent candidate or candidate of regional party are likely to file nomination on Wednesday.