Panaji: Congress recommended former MGP candidate Ketan Bhatikar as the candidate for the Ponda byelection that will be held on April 9. The Congress Pradesh Election Committee cleared Bhatikar’s name and hopes to get the Central Election Committee (CEC) to sign off on it name on Tuesday.“We will wait for the CEC to announce it. Local party functionary Rajesh Verenkar showed willingness to support Bhatikar,” said state Congress president Amit Patkar.“The byelection tenure is short and there is no point in us competing among ourselves. I have told the party I will stand by its decision. We have to defeat BJP this time,” said Verenkar.Patkar expressed confidence in Congress’ chances in the elections, results of which will be declared on May 4.He said Congress consulted its alliance partner, GFP, before deciding on Bhatikar’s name and that Bhatikar has already started campaigning in the constituency, which was represented by Congress-turned-BJP MLA, Ravi Naik. Naik passed away in Oct, prompting the need for a bypoll.
