Team Goemkarponn
Canacona: Former Canacona MLA and ex-minister Isidore Fernandes joined the Goa Forward Party along with 15 prominent supporters ahead of the upcoming Zilla Panchayat elections. GFP president Vijay Sardessai inducted Fernandes and the group at a ceremony held on Wednesday at the Shristhal panchayat hall.
Those who joined the party include councillor and social activist Shubham Komarpant, a close associate of Fernandes, along with several local leaders from Canacona and Poinguinim. Fernandes, who has earlier contested as an Independent, Congress and BJP candidate, has been elected MLA four times and previously served as minister and deputy speaker.
During the ceremony Sardessai welcomed Fernandes with a party shawl and symbolically handed him a coconut, the party’s emblem. The gesture was described as a sign that Fernandes may contest the 2027 assembly elections on a GFP ticket.
The list of leaders inducted into the party includes Shubham Komarpant, Dashrath Gaonkar, Putu Gaonkar, Anand Gaonkar, Anthony Borges, Somdatt Deshmukh, Dr Cajy D’Silva, Ganesh Gaonkar, Prashant Komarpant, Santosh Gaonkar, Tolu Velip, Yeshwant Velip, Vaibhav Shet Desai, Ashok Velip and Ulhas Modival.
Fernandes said he had set aside past political differences with Sardessai and praised the GFP chief for what he described as consistent work for Goans. He also criticised the current MLA from Canacona, alleging that several projects started during his tenure were left incomplete and accusing him of lacking a development vision for the constituency.
GFP Canacona block president Pandurang Gaonkar welcomed the gathering. General secretaries Mohandas Lolienkar and Prashant Naik, along with newly inducted members, addressed the event. GFP Environment Cell chairman Vikas Bhagat conducted the proceedings.
