Panaji: Goa Suraksha Manch president Anand Shirodkar filed his nomination papers on Friday for the by-election to the Panaji Assembly seat on August 23.
After filing his nomination, Mr. Shirodkar told the media that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had put democracy at risk by indulging in “settings” in government formation. Calling Mr. Parrikar a ‘mafia in politics’ Mr. Shirodkar said the CM has now admitted that he had failed to develop Panaji and was now talking of year-long action plan for the constituency. “What did he do for 22 years as Panaji MLA? He only gave fake promises to the electorate and got elected,” Mr. Shirodkar alleged.
Mr. Shirodkar said that Mr. Parrikar had compromised the BJP’s ideology to form the government by hijacking the mandate and joining hands with the parties having different ideologies. He appealed to the people of Panaji to “rest” to Mr. Parrikar and give him a chance to serve them with dedication.
RSS rebel leader Prof. Subhash Velingkar alleged that Mr. Parrikar joined hands with political opportunists without ideological commitments in an attempt to hold on to power.
The Congress has fielded party secretary Girish Chodankar from Panaji.