STAKING CLAIM…
“Many of my supporters in Quepem constituency and within BJP party support me after CM Pramod Sawant because I will be senior-most as I have won 5 tenures from Quepem. This will be the 6th time for me, so if we see seniority and experience, I will be the CM candidate after Sawant”.
Babu Kavlekar
Dy Chief Minister
Goemkarponn desk
QUEPEM: Even before the counting starts and the results out, the senior leaders have already begun hectic lobbying for the Chief Minister’s chair.
While incumbent CM Dr Pramod Sawant faces a stiff challenge from Congress Dharmesh Saglani, all eyes are on who would be next CM if BJP gets the numbers and Sawant loses from Sanquelim?
While a few days ago it was Congress’ Michael Lobo said that he was in contention for the chief minister’s post if his party comes to power, today it was the turn of the Dy Chief Minister Babu Kavlekar, who has his eyes set on the coveted chair.
Speaking to reporters here in Quepem, Kavlekar said that after Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, he is eligible to take up the responsibility.
Kavalekar, while reacting to his chances in Quepem, where he is facing a stiff challenge from Congress candidate Alone D’Costa was optimistic that he would “win by a huge margin.
“I will get around 5,500 votes lead, and this time actually I got strong support from the BJP party workers as well as my good wishers from Congress party are who are still strong my supporters,” he said.
When asked about his ambition for Chief MInister’s chair, Kavlekar said that after CM Pramod Sawant, he was the strong and eligible candidate for the CM post.
“Many of my supporters in Quepem constituency and within BJP party support me after CM Pramod Sawant because I will be senior-most as I have won 5 tenures from Quepem. This will be the 6th time for me, so if we see seniority and experience, I will be the CM candidate after Sawant,” he said.
Many contenders for CM in BJP
While earlier it was in the Congress wherein the MLAs fought within themselves to become the Chief Minister, it is now the turn of BJP.
The BJP has already announced Sawant as the CM candidate, but Dy CM Babu Kavlekar and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane is also vying for the chair.
It is an open secret that Rane has been eyeing this chair since the demise of former CM Manohar Parrikar.
Also, if Vishwajit Rane and his wife win the seat, his claim for the post will have that extra weightage.
Besides Rane and Babu, Union Minister Shripad Naik is also in contention and has always maintained that if the party feels he is ready to don the responsibility.
It is also important to note that if senior leaders Dayanand Mandrekar, Laxmikant Parsekar and Babush Monseratte get elected, their stand would be. Will they work under Sawant or will they throw their hat in the ring for CM’s post?