Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: A fresh bout of discontent has surfaced in the Canacona BJP unit, with long-time party worker and former Poinguinim Deputy Sarpanch Vipin Prabhugaonkar warning that he will contest the upcoming Poinguinim Zilla Panchayat election as an independent if denied a party ticket.
Addressing a hurriedly called press conference on Monday, Prabhugaonkar said he has been a “hardcore BJP karyakarta” for over 24 years and has consistently worked for party-backed candidates, including former MLA Vijay Pai Khot and current MLA and minister Ramesh Tawadkar.
Stating that his family has held elected positions in Poinguinim Panchayat for over two decades, Prabhugaonkar said he had formally conveyed his desire for a ZP ticket to Tawadkar and other party leaders. “I am confident I will get the BJP ticket. But if the party refuses, I will certainly contest as an independent,” he declared.
He said he has spent the past eight months meeting voters across the four panchayats—Poinguinim, Gaondongrim, Khotigao and Loliem-Polem—that fall under the Poinguinim ZP seat, and claimed to be receiving strong support.
Asked if he would withdraw under pressure from the BJP leadership, Prabhugaonkar ruled it out. “That is not possible now as I am already ahead in campaigning. The party has asked me to wait till Wednesday, and I will. After that, I will file my nomination as an independent,” he said.
