Kandolkar has been one of the big supporters of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
While praising her, he also landed himself in a controversy when he suggested that Goa’s Devi Shantadurga is less strong compared to West Bengal Devi.
“To defeat the BJP demons, we need Devi from West Bengal as our Devi Shantadurga is calm and not as strong,” he suggested.
While resigning from the Goa Forward, Kandolkar claimed that he was leaving with a heavy heart as he felt that the Goa Forward and Congress combined were not interested in dethroning the BJP.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
Ever since the Trinamool Congress entered the ring for the 2022 Assembly elections, they have been on a prowl. Being a non-Goan party, who do not have any cadre in Goa despite fighting two elections in 2007 and 2014, the Mamata Banerjee led West Bengal party Trinamool Congress has been poaching the MLAs and former MLAs to project them as the party candidates in the State.
With sheer money power, the TMC so far has forced many leaders, including Congress’ senior MLA from Navelim Luizinho Faleiro and other Congress office-bearers.
Many leaders have since joined the party.
On Saturday, TMC surprised everyone when former Thivim MLA and Goa Forward Working President Kiran Kandolkar quit and join them.
Kandolkar has been one of the big supporters of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
While praising her, he also landed himself in a controversy when he suggested that Goa’s Devi Shantadurga is less strong compared to West Bengal Devi.
“To defeat the BJP demons, we need Devi from West Bengal as our Devi Shantadurga is calm and not as strong,” he suggested.
While resigning from the Goa Forward, Kandolkar claimed that he was leaving with a heavy heart as he felt that the Goa Forward and Congress combined were not interested in dethroning the BJP.
He felt only Mamata Didi could form a formidable force, which could defeat the saffron brigade.
He also took a potshot at Goa Foward President Vijai Sardesai, saying he was indecisive.
What was shocking was that Kandolkar said that he would go independent or join some party after consulting his supporters.
However, within hours, he landed in TMC camp at International Centre in Goa. There were no reports of him consulting any of his supporters.
Of course, Kandolkar is not an elected MLA, and he is free to switch loyalties. But one has to remind him that in less than two years, he has changed three parties.
Kandolkar, who lost to Congress’ Nilkanth Halarnkar in 2017, quit BJP in 2019 after Nilkant and 9 other Congress MLAs joined the party. Maybe he was insecure about his candidature from Thivim again.
He was the BJP spokesperson when he resigned.
He later joined Goa Forward and swore at Dev Bodgeshwar in Mapusa to help Goa Forward defeat BJP. The Goa Forward had promised him two tickets is Aldona and Thivim.
However, as the elections inch closer, Kandolkar again jumped from Goa Forward to TMC.
So far, the former MLA has not been able to give any convincing reason to justify his resignation from Goa Forward.
While he says his intention is to defeat BJP, it seems he is more interested in his personal interest than anything else.
As Goa Forward and Congress are on the verge of forming an alliance, Kandolkar saw that he would not get Aldona and Thivim to sit together as Congress already have a candidate there.
Hence, he decided to switch sides so that he gets two seats Thivim for his wife and Aldona for himself.
Whatever may be the reason, Goa has seen yet another example of how the leaders take their voters and supporters for granted.
It’s only self-interest first, and Goem, Goemkar and Goemkarponn always comes last for the politicians.
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