-- Samir Umarye
BICHOLIM: The Bicholim bolck congress committee today resolved to support Naresh Sawal's candidature even as the Pradesh Congress Committee member, Dr Pramod Salgaonkar urged the workers to be with the party and support the candidate given by the party. Today the Bicholim block congress committee had convened party worker's meet at Hirabai zantye hall Bicholim which was attended by hundreds of people from all over the constituency. Several BMC councillors, sarpanch and panch of various panchayats were present for the meeting. The block committee expressed displeasure over the move of the party of trying to induct Rajesh Patnekar into the party fold without consulting the Bicholim block. The block committee passed resolution of suggesting Sawal's name for the party ticket, they demanded to select Sawal as government representitive in Bicholim for doing all government related works of the party and also urged that the Chief Minister should keep his word of giving ticket to Sawal. In the begning several people who spoke lent their anger over the party move and told that they would support Naresh Sawal. Spekaing on the occasion PCC member, Dr Pramod Salgaonkar told that many BJP MLAs are ready to join the party and asked all not to get afraid with Patnekar's entry into Congress. "All should work for the party and accept the candidate given by the party but at the same time the workers have the right to demand what they want and we would convey your wishes to the higher-ups" Salgaonkar told "party cannot forget the work of Naresh Sawal but who would be given the ticket will be decided by the party and if party gives ticket to someone else than all the workers should support the candidate." Congress Committee General Secretary, Vishnu Wagh supported Naresh sawal and told that Party is only because of the workers and it cannot undermine their wishes. "Work of Naresh would not be a waste and party should think before deciding over the issue of candidature in the constituency" Wagh roared "the party workers should work with new zeal keeping a positive attitude without falling prey to assurances." Ministers 'boycott' meet BICHOLIM: Eventhough the Bicholim block congress were able to attract huge crowd of supporters to show their strength in the constituency it was surprising that no minister or politician attended the meet. As per the information given earlier to the press by the Block committee the Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat; Speaker, Pratapsingh Rane; Health Minister, Vishwajeet Rane were invited. But, not a single minister attended the meet which sparked a wave among the workers that the ministers have boycotted the meet. Taking note of the same the Bicholim Muncipal Council Deputy Chairman, Shashikant Naik Harlankar while speaking on the occasion raised the issue and questioned as to why no one turned up for the meeting. "It just means that they are not in need of the block committee and if they feel that they could elect an MLA without our support it is wrong" Naik told the gathering "this type of attitude towards the workers is dangerous for the party." When Herald asked the PCC member, Dr Pramod Salgaonkar to comment over the sitution she told that all of them were invited but it was done at the last minute. "They were invited at the last minute and so they were unable to come" Salgaonkar tried to do away with the sitution. When further asked to explain she gave another reason "Most of the ministers are busy with the Home Minister's birthday and people should not take it in the other way and support the party on all occasions."
