While speculation is rife over who would ultimately be the BJP candidate for Margao; last minute developments indicate that a surprise candidate Mr Chandan Naik the BJP loyalist to the core may eventually be propped up as the candidate to take on ex MLA Digamber Kamat for the prestigious seat. late evening confabulations at the BJP office Opp Lohia Maidan in Marchon Building indicated that some new developments are underway. The BJP members were in a closed door conference when this writer visited the premises this evening. It is believed that a party stalwart from Maharashtra has been deputed to finalise the candidate though Mr Pramod Mahajan oversees the Goa State.
Mr Naik had been very active when the then Independent Mr Uday Bhembre unseated reigning stalwart late Anant (Babu) Narcinva Naik and is a know social and political activist though has not contested either the local bodies or otherwise in the past. Mr Naik was one of the staunch Kamat supporter who in fact wept on the betrayal by Mr Kamat of deserting the BJP rank and file late February 2005 Initially both Mr S Raiturkar and Chandan Naik may file their nominations tommorrow being the last date but it appears that eventually Mr S Raiturkar the ABVP activist and a raw hand may be asked to withdraw. The other notable entrant is a 6.2 feet tall Kannadiga now domiciled in Goa and married to a Goan Hindu Saraswat Brahmin, Mr Jaffer Ali ex Junior Engineer from the Department of Electricity who will contest as an Independent backed by political parties who could take a chunk of the Moslem votes and runours are doing the rounds that Mr Ivo Coutinho of Bhurieantlo Monis fame and a member of a Co-Operative Bank who may file in his nomination as an Independent. Mr Coutinho was not available for comments when this writer tried to contact him at his restaurant. His entry could pull in several votes from NRI families and others from Assolna Velim Chinchinim Cuncolim who have become registered voters in Margao and upset the apple cart of Mr Kamat who is heavily banking on minority votes given that he has visited almost all Christian homes and is closely associated with Moslem leaders near his residence (close to the Masjid) and migrant workers on Monte and other lowlying areas Khareaband Railway Station Colomord etc. With nearly half the eight of the Margao Municipal Councillors who constitute the Margao Assembly Constituency supporting the BJP with Chairperson Ms Kamilini Painguinkar an ex MGP office bearer now a member of the BJP there is prospects of BJP giving Mr Kamat a run for his money and individual prestige if the above nominations are filed and stand until the last date of withdrawal 19.5.2005 The Saraswat Hindu Brahmins excepting those that are Congress office bearers and some members of the Lok Shakti (a collective of apparently disgruntled anti Parrikar members) will vote for the BJP candidate come what may while the minority votes can easily be split between the Independents INC and others in the fray GODFREY J I GONSALVES Borda Margao Goa [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your life partner online Go to: http://yahoo.shaadi.com/india-matrimony ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Does he tell you he loves you when he's hitting you? Abuse. Narrated by Halle Berry. http://us.click.yahoo.com/aFQ_rC/isnJAA/E2hLAA/0FHolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> http://www.goa-world.com http://www.live365.com/stations/61664 Live Konkani Music http://www.mahableshwar.com/ Addresses: Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner: [EMAIL PROTECTED] URL to this page: http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/gulf-goans Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
