Margao, Oct 30 (TNN): South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha may be on a sticky wicket in so far as his re-nomination as a candidate for the South Goa parliamentary polls is concerned.

Party insiders pointed out that there's a "sense of disconnect" between the grassroots party workers and Sardinha, and that the party bosses will find it difficult to ignore this sentiment while finalizing the candidature for the South Goa polls.

"The 2014 general elections are crucial for the Congress, especially in the backdrop of the Modi-wave. The party would definitely want to win both the seats in Goa and thus would not like to take any chances. However, by virtue of Sardinha being a sitting MP, he is not at a disadvantage, but it is for the high command to take a decision as per its assessment of the situation," sources within the party told TOI.

Sources pointed out that the party does not deny a ticket to its sitting MP or MLA except in situations such as when criminal charges are booked against him. Going by his past record, Sardinha has the good will of constituents cutting across caste and creed.

Nevertheless, sources said that there are at least two senior party leaders who fancy their chances of being nominated to contest the South Goa polls and have already started pulling the right strings.

Former home minister Ravi Naik is eyeing the South Goa ticket and has already started reaching out to his potential support base in the constituency, sources said.

Former chief minister Digambar Kamat, reliable sources said, has also made known to the party high command his willingness to contest the South Goa polls in the event Sardinha is denied the ticket. Sources said that Kamat has already had a meeting with Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, in the national capital, and has expressed his aspiration to contest the polls.

Kamat, when contacted, however, categorically stated that he was not interested in the ticket. "These are all rumours," he said, on his meeting with Patel over the matter.

Besides, former PWD minister Churchill Alemao has been trumpeting about his intention to contest the South Goa polls since long, and it is likely that he would stake a claim for the party ticket.

Alemao's bete noire, AICC general secretary Luizinho Faleiro, has maintained that he is not willing to contest the polls, however, sources said that it would be difficult for him to turn down the proposal, if the offer comes directly from the high command.

"Ahead of the AICC reshuffle, Faleiro was asked by Sonia Gandhi to return to Goa and head the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee. However, as he refused, he was elevated to the post of general secretary in the AICC, during the reshuffle. It would indeed be difficult for him to refuse this time around, if such an offer comes from the Congress president herself," a source close to Faleiro told TOI.

AICC secretary A Chella Kumar said the Congress is strong and is being re-strengthened at the grassroots level. "As for the candidate, it will be decided by the high command. But we are confident of retaining the seat."