BDP members requested to submit their names
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday December 21, 2016 10:07
On Sunday, the members agreed that the talks for consensus candidate will start after the party has realised that more than one people had brought their names. mThe position of Tlokweng MP became vacant after the death of the area MP Same Bathobakae. Three names have thus far popped up: Akanyang Seitshiro, Phineas Molefhe and Thulaganyo Segokgo.
“The party members said there is no point of agreeing on a name when it is not clear whether people are interested in contesting or not. The branch committee is tasked to handle matter. If the candidates do not agree, then the party will go for a primary election,” a source said.
The source said the BDP members agreed that those who are willing to contest for Tlokweng should not be forced to agree so that it will be easy for party to do counselling when they lose party primary elections.
However, the BDP secretary general Botsalo Ntuane said yesterday in an interview: “We met democrats in Tlokweng on Sunday and invited them to submit names to branch committee. If the number of aspirants exceeds one, I have advised branch committee together with party elders, if necessary to engage in dialogue and see if they can secure a consensus candidate. Failure to achieve consensus will lead to primaries next year”.
Ntuane said they have consensus candidate in Tsabong North, Edward Coetzee, and held primary elections in Palapye where Thabo Boikaego won.
He continued: “We are fairly confident we will win the two wards.” The BDP has been doing well in wards that had consensus candidates especially during by-elections.