Khot stays back; Arecio-Moni also join BJP
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 20 February 2012 17:00 IST
Manohar Parrikar pacifying Khot supporters in Canacona
The Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to strengthen its number by getting disgruntled Congressmen into the party, to win the Assembly election.
In view of this, opposition leader Manohar Parrikar drove down to Canacona in the South to woo his resigned MLA Vijay Paik Khot.
After Poinguinim and Canacona constituencies amalgamated, the saffron party chose Poinguinim MLA Ramesh Tawadkar as its candidate, sidelining Khot.
Khot, on the other hand, joined hands with chief minister Digambar Kamat to get the Congress ticket, sidelining all the Congress contenders – Isidore Fernandes, Sanjay Bandekar and Daya Pagi.
After keeping the decision on hold till last minute and changing the names between Fernandes and Khot practically every day, the high command finally reject CM’s candidate Khot, selecting Fernandes.
In the meanwhile, Khot had even resigned as the MLA with a plan to join the Congress.
“I am still the BJP member. I had resigned since the party denied me my right”, Khot now claims.
Supporters of Khot seized the opportunity to get an assurance from Parrikar that their leader would be given a post equivalent to the MLA, if BJP comes to power.
On the other hand, fuming NCP contender Venkatesh Prabhu Moni also joined the BJP, to support Govind Parvatkar, Porvorim candidate of the BJP.
The NCP, at last minute, allotted party ticket to Fermina Khaunte in Porvorim.
On the similar lines, former Cuncolim MLA Arecio D’Souza and former Cuncolim municipal president Ramesh Naik have also joined the BJP.
