Bhatikar’s likely entry into Cong stokes tension

Margao: State Congress president Amit Patkar faced tough questions at the party’s Sanghatan Srijan programme held at Ponda on Thursday, as party workers cornered him over reports of former MGP functionary Ketan Bhatikar’s probable induction into Congress ahead of the Ponda bypoll. While Patkar said that a decision over Bhatikar’s “expression of intent to join Congress” would be taken after consultations at all levels of the party organisation, Bhatikar announced late Thursday that he would join Congress on Feb 24.

Party members expressed strong reservations about Bhatikar’s alleged continued ties with his former party. Workers expressed disappointment over the party’s failure to consult grassroots workers over the move.


Workers also raised fears that Bhatikar, if given a ticket and elected, could defect to the BJP, leaving loyal Congress workers sidelined for nothing. Several members demanded to know who was pulling strings behind the move. They strongly asserted that Congress functionary Rajesh Verenkar, who contested the last assembly election on a Congress ticket and remained loyal to the party, should be the by poll candidate instead.

Patkar attempted to pacify the agitated workers, assuring them that all decisions would be taken only after due consultations at all levels of the party. He assured to hold a block-level meeting within two days, involving AIIC incharge for Goa Manikrao Thakre and the leader of opposition Yuri Alemao, to address the concerns raised.