Daijiworld Media Network – Tivim

Tivim, Sep 27: A tense encounter unfolded in Pirna village, Tivim constituency on Friday evening when Fisheries Minister and local MLA Nilkanth Halarnkar came face to face with Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) President Manoj Parab during the BJP’s ongoing ‘GST Utsav’ campaign.

The incident occurred around 5.30 pm as Halarnkar, accompanied by nearly 30 BJP workers, moved from shop to shop explaining the recent reduction in Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates and traders’ responsibilities under the government’s initiative. The campaign took a political turn when Parab, a Pirna native and prominent Tivim political figure, directly confronted the minister over notices issued to roadside shopkeepers in connection with road widening.

A sizeable police contingent, deployed as part of Halarnkar’s security, quickly intervened to maintain calm. Eyewitnesses described the situation as “tense but under control,” with no physical confrontation reported.

Parab, who contested the 2022 Assembly elections from Tivim and secured over 5,000 votes, accused the BJP government of harassing local traders. “Shopkeepers are already under pressure, and instead of supporting them, your government is serving notices. This is harassment,” he told Halarnkar, adding that the MLA skips Gram Sabha meetings but finds time for political gimmicks.

Halarnkar remained composed, continuing with the campaign and later assuring supporters that the GST drive was intended to educate traders about benefits and responsibilities under the revised tax structure.

Political analysts note that the face-off signals a growing contest in Tivim, with Parab consolidating his grassroots base and increasingly challenging Halarnkar on local development, land, and displacement issues. Friday’s incident highlights the intensifying political rivalry in the constituency ahead of the next Assembly elections.