Mapusa bypoll: BJP leaders, allies root for late Dy CM's son

The BJP has shortlisted the names of Joshua D'Souza, son of Goa's late Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza, and another party leader Sudhir Kandolkar for next month's Mapusa Assembly bypoll.

A number of BJP leaders as well as ruling allies are particularly rooting for Joshua D'Souza.

The by-election to this Assembly constituency in North Goa was necessitated following the demise of Francis D'Souza, a BJP MLA, last month.

Apart from Mapusa, bypolls will also be held in Mandrem and Shiroda constituencies in Goa.

Party sources confirmed that the names of Joshua D'Souza and another leader Sudhir Kandolkar have been shortlisted and sent to Delhi for final decision.

Kandolkar is currently the chairman of Mapusa Municipal Council and one of the longest serving politicians in this civic body. He was a close aide of Francis D'Souza.

Talking to reporters on Thursday, Goa Deputy Speaker and BJP MLA Michael Lobo said, "I support Joshua as a candidate for the Mapusa by-election. I sympathise with him."
A senior BJP leader said, "The candidature of Mapusa by-election is important from the Lok Sabha point of view. The traditional vote bank of D'Souza will move with him and if Joshua is denied a ticket and if he moves to Congress, then the voting percentage in this constituency for Lok Sabha will have an adverse impact."