Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: Energised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Partagal Math, the BJP camp in Canacona is confident of retaining both Zilla Panchayat seats—Poinguinim and Khola—in the upcoming polls.
In Poinguinim, currently represented by Shobhana Gaonkar (ST Women, BJP), party insiders say she is unlikely to be renominated. With the seat now falling under the General category, the BJP is expected to field a new face under the leadership of Minister and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar. Names doing the rounds include former Loliem-Polem sarpanchs Ajay Lolienkar and Sachin Naik, as well as a local mandal office-bearer and the husband of a sitting panch. Internal dissent is also simmering over potential ticket allocation.
The opposition alliance (Congress-GFP-RGP) appears divided even before the poll schedule is finalised. The Goa Forward Party has already declared Prashant Naik as its candidate. Meanwhile, former Khotigao sarpanch Daya Gaonkar—an Isidore Fernandes loyalist who recently joined the Congress—has staked claim to the seat and threatened to contest as an Independent if the seat is allotted to GFP. AAP has also announced its contender: former Khotigao sarpanch Rajesh Gaonkar, a vocal critic of the BJP and a one-time close associate of Isidore Fernandes.
With three corners emerging within the opposition bloc, plans for a one-on-one contest against the BJP may weaken. Political observers say former minister Isidore Fernandes could play a decisive role, as he commands influence in key pockets and may contribute significantly to vote division.
In Khola—the second ZP seat under Canacona—a similar tussle is unfolding. With the seat now reserved for OBC, sources say former Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant ‘Babu’ Kavlekar has been given a free hand to shortlist a BJP nominee, while MLA Tawadkar is also expected to push candidates from Agonda and Shristhal, which fall under his constituency.
Incumbent BJP ZP member Shanu Velip is likely to be replaced. Kavlekar is reportedly backing a new face, including the wife of former Khola sarpanch Ajay Pagui. Tawadkar, meanwhile, is said to be considering candidates from Agonda, with former sarpanch Fatima Rodrigues, ex-panch Shilpa Pagi (wife of Agonda sarpanch Nilesh Pagi), and another local leader emerging as contenders.
Though the Congress-GFP-RGP alliance has yet to firm up its choices for Khola, AAP is believed to be preparing to field a candidate. Former MLA Isidore Fernandes, who previously represented two of the three villages under the Khola seat, is expected to influence candidate selection and voter sentiment, given his continuing support base.
