Saligao: North Goa Congress district president Vijai Bhike has backed the party’s Porvorim candidate Vikas Prabhudesai, and said that due process was followed in shortlisting his name for the ticket.
On Friday, Bhike addressed a press conference along with Porvorim block committee members after some party workers opposed Prabhudesai’s candidature.
“As per the party process, I was also present for the meeting along with other senior party workers as well as state observer and former finance minister P Chidambaran who had said that names sent by the block will be approved. Although there was a delay in finalizing the block president, we held a meeting on January 10, and accordingly, 6-7 names were submitted, and of these one was selected,” he said.
Working president Kedar Tari said that during the Congress Porvorim Block meeting on January 10, party workers were given an opportunity to propose names, including their own. Tari said that the names of Farida Bandekar, Rehan Chodankar, Umesh Narvekar, Anil Pednekar and Vikas Prabhudesai were put forth before the party for approval, and subsequently, Vikas Prabhudesai’s name was proposed as the candidate for Porvorim constituency.
“However, some block members were unhappy and countered the decision by stating that the recent entry in the party, and that he is not from this constituency. I request all the block members to come together and strengthen the Congress in Porvorim. If they say that he is a weak candidate, then we have to work under the Congress banner and ensure that Vikas Prabhudesai wins,” he said.
Vice-president of Porvorim block committee advocate Mamata Saterdekar said that the candidate selection was done as per process.
“I was present for the January 10 meeting, before the press conference to announce the candidate was held. I had said that I am respecting the party’s decision to shortlist Vikas Prabhudesai’s name. I will work for the party irrespective of whose name is selected. It is the high command’s decision, and as Congress workers we should not object to it. We are a family and we should work as a family. I will help Prabhudesai with door to door campaigning and work for this victory,” she said.
chairman of the Ex-Servicemen Wing of GPCC Col Noel Godwin, said that the manner in which certain members of the Porvorim Congress Block have gone about expressing their grievances is not acceptable.
“Rather than uploading videos with malafide intentions and trying to tarnish the image of not only the candidate but also of the AICC observer and desk incharge as well as the Goa Congress leadership, they could have walked into the office and conveyed their grievances. This is treason against the party. I request the party leadership to give these unhappy members another chance to tender an unconditional apology. They should rally behind the party,” he said.
“There are many silent workers who do a lot of work behind the scenes and that work gets noticed, rather than lip service. Prabhudesai’s work has spoken for himself. He is a man of few words and a result-oriented person. He is the most ideal candidate that the party could have selected. Everyone has been working for the Congress and all of us cannot aspire to get the ticket. If there is someone more deserving, let us back him,” he added.
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