GF starts spreading wings from Pedne to Sanguem, but drops Bicholim
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 18 September 2016 14:24 IST
Goa Forward has started spreading its wings from Fatorda to all over Goa, by winning over political activists of Congress, BJP and a new entrant like Aam Aadmi Party.
“We have already started working in 12 constituencies and are looking ultimately at fielding 20 candidates all over Goa”, said Prabhakar Timble, the GF president.
It also includes constituencies of GF mentors – Fatorda of Vijay Sardesai and Porvorim of Rohan Khaunte.
Interestingly, Naresh Sawal’s Bicholim does not figure in the list of 20 constituencies they have started working, probably because he has made it amply clear his intention to join the MGP.
GF has already declared that it would leave 20 seats for other parties, mainly Congress, while trying hard till the end for Mahagathbandhan.
“The bug of grand alliance has hit us like cancer since we are convinced that the BJP can’t be defeated without bringing anti-BJP forces together”, said Timble.
The GF has already started working actively in 12 constituencies, which include 4 out of 8 in Salcete, 4 out of 7 in Bardez and one each out of two in Mormugao, Sanguem, Quepem and Pedne.
The constituencies are SALCETE: Fatorda, Velim, Navelim and Nuvem; BARDEZ: Saligao, Mapusa, Siolim and Aldona; MORMUGAO: Cortalim; SANGUEM: Sanguem, QUEPEM: Curchorem and PEDNE: Pedne.
“The candidates would be projected unofficially till we officially declare names by December end”, said the educationist-turned-politician.
Though Congress MLA Digambar Kamat’s Margao does not figure in the list of 20 seats the GF is eyeing for, Timble had a different observation to make.
“We sincerely feel that Margao needs to restore the pride it lost after Babu Naik”, he quipped.
He also does not rule out the possibility of Margao figuring in the list if it is extended up to 23, but declines to comment on whether the candidate would be Digambar Kamat or another personality of Babu Naik’s stature.
While spreading throughout Goa, the new regional outfit is not only getting fresh young blood into it but also the disgruntled elements from other parties.
The biggest blow in this direction was yesterday, when Goa Forward admitted eight BJP-backed candidates of Margao municipality, from Fatorda, blaming Damu Naik for hijacking the party.
Independent MLA Vijay Sardesai-backed panel in Fatorda Assembly constituency had swept the municipal poll in October last year by winning all the 11 wards and making ex-BJP MLA bite the dust.
The eight BJP-backed candidates out of 11 included Sujay Lotlikar, Raju Naik, Ramdas Hazare, Charlton Barreto, Vitorino Tavares, Custodio Dias, Mayur Naik and Florindo Miranda.
Equally a remarkable blow was getting North district Congress vice president Jayesh Salgaonkar and AAP leader Prakash Bandodkar from Saligao, along with members of Pilern Citizens’ Forum.
But GF is also eying for social activists like Anthony Veronica Fernandes, who played important role from Kuwait during Konkani movement, joining the party along with 60 workers from Mapusa.
And the real sixer was taking GF to celebrity level by admitting Goa’s favourite cricketer Shadab Jakati into the party fold.
“There are more surprises to come, just wait and watch”, said Timble.
