Mahadev Naik to join Congress, may get Shiroda ticket
TNN | Updated: Feb 23, 2019, 06:34 IST
Mahadev NaikPANAJI: Former minister in the Manohar Parrikar government, Mahadev Naik on Friday said he will quit BJP and join Congress on Sunday. Naik is being shortlisted by Congress for the Shiroda bypoll. Subhash Shirodkar, who was elected on Congress ticket in the 2017 assembly elections, joined BJP in October last. Bypolls are expected in April.
Speaking to TOI, Naik said he will resign as BJP member on Saturday morning.
‘Mahadev Naik joining Congress won’t have impact’
“Congress member approached me on Friday and requested me to join the party and I have decided to join Congress on Sunday along with my supporters,” he said.
A political observer said if Congress decides to give ticket to Naik and MGP president Pandurang Dhavalikar contests the Shiroda byelection, it would be a tough battle.
Speaking to TOI, state Congress chief Girish Chodankar said they are meeting everyone against Shirodkar and we will unite them to defeat BJP in the byelection.
“Y’day @ Margao V had very fruitful meeting of all aspirants for #Shiroda byelections. Decided to approach all Aspirants including Tukaram Borker,DrSubhash Prabudesai, Madeo Naik & others to defeat #Gaddar. Our OfficeBearers already contacted some. @INCGoa Sr. Leaders also guided,” Chodankar tweeted.
Unfazed, BJP said they will continue to have the upper hand in Shiroda constituency as their karyakartas are with the party. BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar said, “Naik joining Congress will not have any impact on the party’s prospect in Shiroda. Our karyakartas are with us and with the additional support of Shirodkar’s supporters we will win the seat with a huge margin,” Tendulkar said.
Naik and his supporters have accused BJP and Tendulkar for not taking them into confidence before deciding on Shirodkar joining BJP. It held a meeting with its karyakartas and Naik to convince them not to revolt against the party. After Shirodkar joined BJP, Naik had said that he is ready to join Congress if offered ticket to contest byelection to defeat Shirodkar.
Earlier, Naik had told TOI, “If Congress offers me ticket then I will join them. I have not left politics yet.” Naik is a two-time BJP MLA from Shiroda and was defeated in 2017 by Shirodkar in assembly elections.
Speaking to TOI, Naik said he will resign as BJP member on Saturday morning.
‘Mahadev Naik joining Congress won’t have impact’
“Congress member approached me on Friday and requested me to join the party and I have decided to join Congress on Sunday along with my supporters,” he said.
A political observer said if Congress decides to give ticket to Naik and MGP president Pandurang Dhavalikar contests the Shiroda byelection, it would be a tough battle.
Speaking to TOI, state Congress chief Girish Chodankar said they are meeting everyone against Shirodkar and we will unite them to defeat BJP in the byelection.
“Y’day @ Margao V had very fruitful meeting of all aspirants for #Shiroda byelections. Decided to approach all Aspirants including Tukaram Borker,DrSubhash Prabudesai, Madeo Naik & others to defeat #Gaddar. Our OfficeBearers already contacted some. @INCGoa Sr. Leaders also guided,” Chodankar tweeted.
Unfazed, BJP said they will continue to have the upper hand in Shiroda constituency as their karyakartas are with the party. BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar said, “Naik joining Congress will not have any impact on the party’s prospect in Shiroda. Our karyakartas are with us and with the additional support of Shirodkar’s supporters we will win the seat with a huge margin,” Tendulkar said.
Naik and his supporters have accused BJP and Tendulkar for not taking them into confidence before deciding on Shirodkar joining BJP. It held a meeting with its karyakartas and Naik to convince them not to revolt against the party. After Shirodkar joined BJP, Naik had said that he is ready to join Congress if offered ticket to contest byelection to defeat Shirodkar.
Earlier, Naik had told TOI, “If Congress offers me ticket then I will join them. I have not left politics yet.” Naik is a two-time BJP MLA from Shiroda and was defeated in 2017 by Shirodkar in assembly elections.
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