Goa: MLA Nilesh Cabral is acceptable to all voters from different communities

PANAJI: For the first time in several years, the BJP in South Goa seems to have a clear edge, yet it is unable to finalize its Lok Sabha candidate due to differences of opinion among the top brass of the State party unit.

Initially, the names of former CM and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar, former deputy CM Chandrakant ‘Babu’ Kavlekar, former MP Narendra Sawaikar and party general secretary and former Fatorda MLA Damodar ‘Damu’ Naik were shortlisted.

Kamat and Tawadkar openly declared that they were not interested in contesting the Lok Sabha polls, while Kavlekar and Sawaikar are still in the fray. Naik is being considered for other roles in the party and may be made State President by the end of this year, BJP sources claimed. Apparently, the party high command in Delhi has put the names of Kavlekar and Sawaikar on hold for the time being and is looking at a third and fourth option, including women candidates.

ALSO READ: Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral’s name under serious consideration for South Goa Lok Sabha seat

Former PWD Minister and Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral’s name has once again cropped up in the race for the South Goa BJP Lok Sabha seat, even as the party ‘struggles’ to shortlist women candidates with the winnability factor.

As we reported earlier, the BJP leadership was ‘considering’ the name of a Catholic candidate for South Goa and once again sources indicated that Cabral may be in the reckoning. The BJP leadership in Delhi is expected to announce the second list of candidates today (or tomorrow).

Cabral who is known all over Goa is reachable and personally responds to WhatsApp and SMS messages by Goans. He has been with the BJP as a loyal karyakarta and is also acceptable to the Catholic voters of South Goa to a large extent. He is also quite active and can be considered to be the man-about-town for the BJP in South Goa. In fact, Cabral has a unique combination to ensure ‘winnability’ –  the magic word while selecting candidates for any poll, political observers in South Goa pointed out.

According to prominent locals in South Goa, Cabral has a large supporter base among the Hindus as well as the Catholics of South Goa. He is also an acceptable face for the Muslims who may vote for the BJP. He is tech-savvy, well-organised, methodical and an educated businessman who understands the nuances of minority voting patterns. Given this combination, Cabral is being considered as the Lok Sabha candidate, claimed sources privy to the latest developments.