Panaji, Nov 25(TOI): With the next assembly elections looming ahead, veteran politician and former Congress leader Dayanand Narvekar is gearing up for another poll battle, but has not finalized on whom to join hands with in his quest to return to the Goa assembly.

"I've not finalized my plans though some parties have approached me to contest the forthcoming 2017 polls," the seven-times MLA and former speaker told TOI.
Sources close to him say that Narvekar is keen to contest from Porvorim constituency, though has been reluctant to reveal his plans. "Yes, Porvorim is one of the constituencies on my mind. But I can consider even Aldona or Tivim", he said. Narvekar declined to mention which party he would prefer to contest with. "Let me see. I am not sure. I might even support young candidates who helped me in the past," he said.

Glenn Souza Ticlo, then a greenhorn in the BJP, proved to be a giant killer in Aldona in 2012, when he defeated Narvekar, a seasoned politician by a hufe margin of 3,476 votes.

The former deputy chief minister, who had a short tenure in one of those brittle coalitions during the politically-tumultuous 1990s, has lost only twice since 1970s. Once was to Ratnakar Chopdekar of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), to whom he lost by 333 votes. That loss was a direct effect of the Sunita Haldankar molestation case. The MLA had allegedly molested Sunita, who was his typist inside the speaker's chamber.

In 2014, Narvekar resigned from the Congress party to contest the Lok Sabha polls, but could muster only 4,117 votes. And since then he has kept a low profile.

Asked whether he has reactivated himself in time for the assembly polls, Narvekar said "I've been active much before Chaturthi. When I go around, people tell me their grievances and some have requested me to contest the forthcoming assembly elections. People have lot of problems and they say they need a person like me to serve them better," he said.

Sources say that he has his eyes set on Porvorim. In the delimitation of constituencies which came into effect from the 2012 polls, Porvorim was carved out of Aldona constituency. An overconfident BJP lost the seat, allegedly due to intraparty factionalism, to an independent candidate Rohan Khaunte. The present Union minister for state for Ayush, Shripad Naik was offered the seat at the last moment, which he declined and then the party nominated Govind Parvatkar who lost the elections to Khaunte by less than 1,000 votes.

There were reports that Narvekar had met the All India Congress Committe (AICC) general secretary in charge of Goa desk, Digvijay Singh. But, Narvekar vehementally denied it and said, "No, I never went to Delhi to meet him."

With the Congress failing to find or groom a good candidate in Porvorim, Narvekar could be trying to promote himself as the best bet.
An insider said, "The party may consider Narvekar's candidature. There are quite a few vying for the ticket. The party leadership will have to decide whether it should prefer a youngster like Sunil Kawthankar or a veteran like Narvekar."

If ignored by Congress party, Narvekar might look at Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) hoping for an alliance between the two like-minded parties, if they come to power. But sources say it would be clear in less that a month, which platform Narvekar would chose for the 2017 polls.