Panaji, Feb 26 (TOI): While BJP national organisational secretary B L Santosh on Monday requested former CM Laxmikant Parsekar not to revolt against the party and contest the byelection in Mandrem, Parsekar has asked the party to conduct a survey in Mandrem to ascertain who will win the election for the party.
Political observers said that if the party is able to convince Parsekar not to contest the byelection then it would be a win-win situation for the BJP as it would not divide the BJP votes in Mandrem.
Santosh, BJP state organisational secretary Satish Dhond and Parsekar held a meeting in Panaji and discussed about the byelection in Mandrem. Parsekar has expressed his desire to contest the assembly byelections as an independent candidate if the party denies him the ticket.
Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting, Parsekar said, “It was a courtesy visit. They wanted to meet me, and we met. I have told them that I will contest the assembly byelection as an independent candidate and asked them to conduct a survey in Mandrem to know who will win the election for the party.”
Parsekar is one among the founder members of the BJP in the state and he had contested the first assembly elections in 1989 wherein he could not even secure his deposit.
He also said that after going through the survey result, the party should take a decision on whom to give the ticket. “I have spoken the same thing with BJP national president Amit Shah and today I have reminded them about it,” he said.
Parsekar and Sopte have both started their election campaign in Mandrem constituency. Recently, the BJP dissolved its Mandrem block which was demanding that Parsekar be given the party ticket for the Mandrem bypoll. BJP appointed former Mandrem MLA Dayanand Sopte’s close aide Madhu Parab as the new Mandrem block president.
The BJP block has threatened the party that Parsekar be given the ticket or else they will force Parsekar to contest as an independent candidate. BJP Mandrem block had accused Tendulkar of not taking them into confidence while inducting Sopte into the party.
Former MLA Dayanand Sopte quit the Congress and joined BJP because of which, Mandrem will go to the bypoll.