Navelim: Bharatiya Janata Party will have to work on its best strategy to retain Zilla Panchayat seat of Navelim, with the by-election scheduled later this year, becoming a prized catch for many political parties.
Ulhas Tuenkar, who had won Zilla Panchayat election from this constituency, had also successfully won the Legislative Assembly polls this year. Tuenkar has resigned from the post, facilitating by-election in this constituency.
With political parties like AAP and Congress eyeing to show their prowess over this constituency, Goa Forward Party is also showing interest here. These political parties are likely to indulge in the political engineering to make sure that the BJP does not retain this seat.
The party has several of its aspiring candidates in this constituency including Urfan Mulla, Paresh Naik, SatyaVijai Naik and others. Tuenkar will have to go by the candidate which the party selects.
Satyavijai Naik, who is amongst the first BJP leaders in this constituency, has lost Zilla Panchayat seat twice. He is also not seen prominently in the scene.
Paresh Naik who is shaping up BJP organization in this constituency has also not been able to make mark.
Urfan Mulla lost the panchayat election in the ward, shocking everyone, but has managed to keep himself afloat by remaining relevant in the constituency. Mulla claimed that the leaders like Digambar Kamat, Vijai Sardesai, Churchill Alemao, Avertano Furtado and Luizinho Faleiro had worked against him.
Mulla stands a good chance to win ZP ticket in this constituency as there is sizeable muslim community votes here.
Also, considering the upcoming Lok Sabha election, the pro-minority image of the party could be put up with Mulla getting the candidature.
