The Congress candidate list smacks of hypocrisy as many prominent party leaders who toiled hard to safeguard the party base have been kept out. While the party has given tickets to many who have little chance of winning, persons who could be sure winners have been left out due to the party’s misjudgements.
Beginning with senior leaders like Jitendra Deshprabhu, Pratap Gawas, Joaquim Alemao and younger leaders like Sunil Kawthankar, Urfan Mulla have been denied party tickets, despite their names figuring in the list of probable candidates submitted by the respective block committees.
The denial of ticket has come as a major shock to these aspirants, a few who had even started campaigning, before the candidates were announced.
In Mandrem, mother and son duo of former Minister Sangita Parab and Sachin were seen as probable candidates along with Jitendra Deshprabhu. Sangita and Sachin had joined Congress in March last year and organized a massive public meeting in the constituency. However, all three were denied tickets and the party has fielded Dayanand Sopte.
Though he managed to obtain the party ticket, he may face a tough challenge from rejected aspirants and Deshprabhu has indirectly hinted at such move. “I am not campaigning for the Congress candidate in Mandrem, they have senior leaders to campaign like Ramakant Khalap and Babi Bagkar,” he said.
“Congress high command felt that Sopte is a winnable candidate and hence given him the ticket. I have to stand by their decision,” he said thanking the party for accepting his recognized candidate Vikesh Asnotikar from Pernem.
Congress’ most vocal and vibrant young leader – General Secretary Sunil Kawthankar –who attacked the government for its failure has been denied a ticket. In his stead, a non Congressmen Santosh Sawanth who is apparently backed by Vishwajit Rane was given the go ahead by the party.
