Panaji: Former Deputy Speaker Isidore Fernandes on Monday began his campaign for the 2027 elections from Canacona Assembly constituency by offering prayers at Shree Mallikarjun Temple, Cotigao.
Fernandes who had contested 2022 election as an Independent candidate after being denied ticket by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Then Canacona MLA had switched over from Congress to the BJP in the year 2019 along with nine others led by Chandrakant Kavlekar.
Fernandes has said that he would be contesting 2027 election from the constituency, but which political party he would chose to go with, is yet to be decided.
The former MLA said that he will not opt for Bharatiya Janata Party, even if it offered him the ticket, though he had helped them in the last Lok Sabha elections. “I had supported BJP candidate (Pallavi Dempo) because of my personal connection with her family and also out of respect for the chief minister,” he said.
Fernandes, however, was quick enough to add that his respect for the chief minister will not be a factor for 2027 election.
“I will ask my people which political party should I contest with. I am open to contest on Congress, Goa Forward Party or AAP,” he said, adding that none of these parties have contacted him yet.
Fernandes said that his decision to switch over to BJP from Congress in the year 2019 was to ensure that there is development in his constituency.
“I managed to get so many works done when I was in the BJP,” he said. In yet another reason, Fernandes said that congress party had failed to keep their flock together that time due to which they left.
Fernandes said that if elected on any of the party ticket, he will never support BJP to form the government. “This time, I will not join BJP,” he said.
Despite his defeat in the constituency, Isidore has kept connect with the voters, specially in the tribal belt, where he wields a good control.
“I have been always in connect with the voters. Even after the defeat, I have continued meeting them and helping them,” he said.
Fernandes said that he would fielding candidates for the Zilla Panchayat election and only after that will take call on joining any political party.
“I have to show my strength by getting both my ZP candidates elected,” said Fernandes, who is known with his pet name Boss in the constituency.
