Ending days of suspense, the BJP has settled for Sharmad Raiturkar to once again cross swords with five-time Margao MLA Digambar Kamat – rnthe third time in the last 12 years -- in the February 4 Assembly poll.
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MARGAO
The young cinematographer faces an acid test of his political career as he has a task cut out to bring all the factions to rally behind him if he hopes to end Kamat’s 22-year-old rule in the commercial town.
Sharmad asserted that he will not waste the opportunity given to him by the party leadership to bring about a political change in the commercial capital, while exuding confidence that all leaders and workers will join hands for the party’s success.
Incidentally, BJP leader Bhai Naik, who lost the race to Sharmad, thanked Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for having considered his name as one of the probable candidates. He wished Sharmad all the best in the election.
This is the third time that Sharmad will lock horns with Kamat, after his battle against the seasoned Congress leader in the 2005 by-poll and in the subsequent 2007 general election came a cropper.
He, however, asserted that his past record will not come in the way of defeating the five-time Margao MLA, saying that he is now in a better position to take the electoral battle in the rival camp.
While eyebrows have been raised in political circles whether the faction-ridden party will rise in unison to defeat the seating MLA, Sharmad, however, exuded confidence that all the local party leaders and workers will join hands to achieve the objective of ushering in a political change. “To have an aspiration is not a bad thing. There may be claimants for the ticket, but I am confident all will join hands to achieve the objective of defeating the Margao MLA,” Sharmad told The Goan.
Given that he has less than 25 days at hand to build up the tempo in his favour, Sharmad said he will immediately kick-off his campaign so that the party message reaches every nook and corner of the city.
Asked how does he feel about taking the Margao MLA when his earlier two attempts had come a cropper, Sharmad shot back, “I was a novice when I was handpicked to take on Kamat in the 2005 by-poll. Two years later in 2007, I again contested against Kamat and lost, but now I am confident that after my 12 years of work, connecting myself with a cross section of the people and taking up their work, I am today in a better position to take on the former Chief Minister.”
