Another BDP Hopeful Drops Out
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday January 30, 2017 14:52
There was further encouraging news also over the weekend that a third candidate, name known to The Monitor, could also drop out by the end of the week, leaving the BDP with at least two candidates ahead of the weekend primaries.
The BDP has finally got their political activities in Tlokweng off the ground albeit on a low key, after months of uncertainty that saw the ruling party freezing all political activities in Tlokweng pending the resolution of outstanding issues at the troubled branch.
The campaigns took off by way of door-to-door campaign on Wednesday last week as the BDP faces a mountain to climb in trying to nick the seat in a very strong UDC territory. Since the passing away of the UDC Tlokweng MP Same Bathobakae last November, the BDP froze political campaigns in the constituency as they tried to quell internal bickering as well as resolving the Bulela Di Tswe debacle where five candidates have been finding it hard to reach a compromise, forcing the party to conduct the primaries billed for this coming weekend.
The UDC announced their candidate early January, with the BDP playing catch up, a month later. This helped UDC to start their activities early and the party branding in the area by putting up posters and issuing flyers in the area. Kenneth Segokgo will represent the UDC in the by-election.
The three hopefuls still remaining in the BDP race for the weekend bye-election are Thulaganyo Segokgo, Elijah Katse and Dr Phineas Molefe.
The Monitor has learnt that though the BDP is preparing for primaries in Tlokweng constituency, some party leaders are still continuing to encourage the hopeful candidates to talk amongst themselves on what they think could be best for the party.
“Seitshiro indicated to the branch that he is withdrawing from contesting this weekend. He even called a meeting of his supporters to inform them about his decision,” a source said. However, efforts to get hold of Seitshiro were not successful as his wife said he was at church and was the only one who can answer on political issues. The BDP secretary general, Botsalo Ntuane yesterday confirmed the latest developments.