NT Reporter
Ponda
Congress has not yet finalised its candidate for the upcoming Ponda by-election, even as internal discussions continue amid speculation over possible entrants into the party.
After the demise of Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik, Ponda Congress leader Rajesh Verenkar was the first to announce his intention to contest the by-election. However, party leaders have not officially declared Verenkar as the candidate.
Speaking at a block meeting on Thursday, GPCC president Amit Patkar maintained that the Congress has not yet decided its candidate. He said the party will announce names after due process.
Responding to speculation about importing a candidate for the forthcoming Ponda bypoll, Patkar said that Ketan Bhatikar had approached him and expressed his wish to contest on a Congress ticket.
He said that the party would hold internal discussions with the party president and other office bearers regarding Bhatikar’s candidature.
Patkar said that Verenkar is a loyal worker of
the party from Ponda. When asked what would be the fate of Verenkar if Bhatikar is given the Congress nomination, Patkar played
down the question raised by the media.
On alliance matters, he said that Goa Forward is with the Congress as a pre-poll alliance partner. Referring to allegations made by RGP MLA Viresh Borkar, Patkar said that Congress is an organised democratic party, while the RG Party is controlled by someone.
According to sources, Bhatikar is likely to join
the Congress in the first week of March.
