If BJP wants, ready to contest for Margao: Babu Ajgaonkar throws his hat for Margao Assembly seat

Days after BJP inducted Pravin Arlekar into the party, hinting that the ruling party will not nominate the Deputy Chief Minister Manohar 'Babu' Ajgaonkar from Pernem, Ajgaonkar on Thursday, January 6, staked claim to Margao Assembly seat.

The Deputy Chief Minister said if the party desired, he will contest from Margao and will take up issues of Margao with the government. "I am a sincere BJP man. I will be there for the Muslims of Margao. I will not allow injustice to be done to poor and weaker sections of society. I will take up all the issues of Margao with the government," Ajgaonkar told reporters, who were visiting Margao to meet Mahesh Amonkar.

Margao Municipal Corporation Councillor Mahesh Amonkar was on hunger strike outside the office of South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) for the past three days over the change of zone of the land acquired for Kabrastan at Sansoddo in Margao.

Ajgaonkar assured Amonkar that issue will be resolved and urged Amonkar to end his hunger strike. "For the last 40 years, the issue of the cemetery in Madgaon has been on the rise. Current MLA Digambar Kamat has not been able to resolve this issue. He used the Muslim Brothers only for votes. If Muslims in Pernem can get a burial ground, why can't in Margao?"

In 2011, 30,000 square meters of space was reserved for a cemetery at Sonsodo. The Deputy Chief Minister demanded an inquiry into who and for what purpose the zoning of the land was done while the process of taking possession of the land was underway.

Earlier, BJP had almost finalised a real estate professional Jagannath alias Desh Prabhudessai as Party candidate for Margao seat. However, he quit the BJP within days citing factionalism in the party.