Panaji: BJP finally managed to convince Bicholim MLA and the speaker assembly Rajesh Patnekar to oppose the election of February 14, after the Head of the Pramod Sawant’s head convinced him about the bed cabinet if BJP formed the next government.
Toi is the first to report Patnekar’s decision not to oppose the assembly selection on health land.
“At the request of the party and Bicholim Karyakartas, I have taken back my decision not to fight.
Bicholim is a BJP Bastion and after my decision not to take part in the contest, there are many vacuums made.
I don’t want this to happen.
I’m sure you will win this chair for BJP, “said Patnekar to TOI after the meeting with Sawant and state President BJP Sadanand Shet Tanaavade.
BJP workers have held a meeting on Thursday to convince Patnekar to the contest from Bicholim.
Previously, Sawant also tried to convince him for the contest but he had refused.
The minister’s chairman and Tanavade then met Patnekar on Friday morning, and stepped explored him.
They also convinced there was no interference in his constituency.
Sawant told Ti that the party would send Pathnekar nomination for Bicholim to Delhi.
The name is expected to be released in the BJP second candidate list.
“BJP will win the three seats in Bicholim Taluka.
Although there has been a delay in expressing candidates and as Pathekar is also reluctant to compete on the basis of health, people must support BJP,” Sawant said.
Over the past few days, after Patnekar told the party that he would not oppose the health reason, party officials ran from the pillar to the post to find suitable candidates.
While Tanavade tried to convince the independent candidate Chandrakan Shetye, Sawant went out to convince the Naresh Sawal MGP candidate.
However, both refused to contest on BJP tickets.
It was also proposed to ban the chairman of the Bicholim City Council Kundan Falaria as a BJP candidate.
Patnekar has secured Bicholim for three terms since 2002, except in 2012, when he stopped BJP and contested as Congress candidates.
That year, he was defeated by Sawal, which was contested as independent.
During the election of the new city council, BJP, Sawal and Shetye have lowered their panels.
Patnekar, however, managed to secure the BJP Board with 10 seats and with the support of one independent candidate.
The Sawal panel secures three seats and the only one.