PANAJI: BJP finally managed to convince its Bicholim MLA and assembly speaker
Rajesh Patnekar
to contest the February 14 assembly elections after chief minister Pramod Sawant assured him of a cabinet berth if the party retained power.
TOI was the first to report Patnekar’s decision not to contest assembly elections on health grounds.
“On the request of the party and Bicholim karyakartas, I have taken back my decision of not contesting. Bicholim is BJP’s bastion and after my decision not to contest, there was a vacuum. I did not want this to happen. I am confident of winning this seat for BJP,” Patnekar told TOI after the meeting with Sawant and BJP state president Sadanand Shet Tanavade.
BJP workers had held a meeting on Thursday to convince Patnekar to contest from Bicholim. Earlier, Sawant too had tried convincing him to contest but he had declined.
The chief minister and Tanavade subsequently met Patnekar on Friday morning, and went to the extent of offering him a cabinet berth. They also assured no interference in his constituency.
Sawant told TOI that the party will send Patnekar’s candidature for Bicholim to Delhi. His name is expected to be released in BJP’s second list of candidates.
“BJP will win all three seats in Bicholim taluka. Even though there has been a delay in declaring candidates and as Patnekar too was reluctant to contest on health grounds, people should support BJP,” Sawant said.
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