Goemkarponn desk
CANACONA: Congress’s efforts to rejuvenate and strengthen the Party at the grassroots level with “CHETANA YATRA” have instead widened the differences within the rank and file of grassroots workers in Canacona.
Congress candidate (Assembly-2022 Elections) and GPCC General Secretary and firebrand Janardhan Bhandari walked off from the meeting of Chethana Yatra, later on, addressed by GPCC President Amit Patkar and Working President Yuri Alemao, at GM Celebration conference hall, Shrishthal in Canacona on Saturday.
Bhandari, reportedly got upset on seeing the presence of Mahadev Dessai, a former GPCC Secretary, who had revolted against the Party and contested on the TMC platform at the last Assembly elections, after Congress denied him the ticket and instead fielded Bhandari.
According to sources, in its statewide Chethana Yatra campaign of Canacona leg, the scheduled meeting was just started at G M Celebration conference hall, in the presence of GPCC President Amit Patkar and Working President Yuri Alemao besides Canacona Congress Block President Prahlay Bhagat and others.
When contacted, Dessai informed affirmatively, ‘Yes, On seeing my presence, Janardhan Bhandari, who has unsuccessfully contested on Congress ticket walked off from the meeting Hall, surprising all the participants including the GPCC President and Working President’, Mahadev Dessai informed.
Dessai further informed he, having worked for the Party for the last 17 years and also severely expended resources for party works, was denied a party ticket at the last moment, which forced him to contest on the TMC platform.
“But, I continue to be a staunch congress worker and only Party president Amit Patkar invited me I alongwith my long-term companions/congressmen (Ex-Gaondongrim Sarpanch) Rajendra Velip, Kishore Desai had come to attend the Chethana Yatra’ meeting. However, Bhandari, who fared badly in the assembly elections, walked off from the middle of the meeting,” he said.
Incidentally, Canacona Congress Block President Prahlay Bhagat, Congress Spokesperson Pallavi Bhagat, and a few other Canacona Congress workers remained seated and attended the further proceedings, including the addresses and guidance of GPCC President Amit Patkar and Working President Yuri Alemao, informed sources.
It may be recalled that Bhandari, in an appeal, has invited all Congress and frontal organizations’ office bearers, workers & Congress well-wishers/sympathizers from Canacona to participate in Chetana Yatra and support Congress Party to strengthen its organization to bring back real “Acche Din” for common Goenkar.
Efforts to contact Bhandari as well as Canacona Congress Block President Prahlay Bhagat failed both refused to attend calls or reply to messages.
Betrayer Mahadev has no right to talk about Janardhan: Bhagat
CANACONA – Stating Canacona Trinamool Congress(TMC)’ defeated Candidate Mahadev Dessai is a betrayer of the Congress Party, Canacona Congress Block President Prahlay Bhagat said Dessai has no right to speak on Congress leader Janardan Bhandari and Congress Party.
In a press statement issued today, Bhagat sharply reacted to the statement made by TMC Candidate Mahadev Dessai blaming Janardhan Bhandari for his failure to win the Canacona seat; Canacona Block Congress President Pralay Bhagat has termed the same as unwarranted and uncalled-for remarks.
“TMC’s imported Candidate Mahadev Dessai who claimed yesterday to be a popular leader of Canacona could garner only 1066 votes in the recently held elections. This exposes his popularity and the so-called hard work he claimed,” stated Pralay Bhagat.
“It is loud and clear that Mahadev Desai deserted the Congress Party during the Assembly Election 2022 only for selfish gains. He has no moral right to speak about loyal and dedicated Congressmen like Janardhan Bhandari. It was the loyalty of Jana Bhandari which helped him get the Congress candidature from Canacona,” he said.