PANAJI
As preparations are in full swing for the soon-to-be-held Lok Sabha polls, State BJP President Sadanand Shet Tanavade “ also Rajya Sabha MP “ has dismissed the 'marginal drop' in the previous vote share, citing a consistent above 50 per cent performance and expressed confidence in winning both seats. With the central committee preparing to announce names probably mid-next month, Tanavade claimed the focus remains on the party’s symbol over individual candidates. He speaks to The Goan.
THE GOAN: How are the preparations for the upcoming elections going?
SADANAND SHET TANAVADE: Our preparations are in full swing. In fact, all our blocks including karyakartas have been on their job for several months. Meetings, interactions with different sections of society, awareness camps on a long list of welfare schemes introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi pan-India in addition to schemes within Goa, development, equality, etc have been ongoing for quite some time. We are certain to win both the Lok Sabha seats this 2024 elections.
TG: The BJP vote share had dropped from 54 per cent in the 2014 LS polls to 51 per cent in the 2019 LS elections. How will the party manage this time with parties like Aam Aadmi Party and Revolutionary Goans also in the fray?
Tanavade: The drop was marginal. BJP’s vote share in every LS election has been above 50 per cent, which means it’s a straight fight between the BJP and the rest of the parties. This straight fight will be seen in the 2024 polls too, and I am optimistic that BJP’s vote share will surpass the figures won during the 2019 elections. The reason is simple: The I.N.D.I.A. bloc has split because their ‘agent’ has only one agenda “ to defeat the BJP. On the contrary, BJP’s motto is continuous infrastructure and human development across the country. We have been growing in all the sectors and living standards are improving. Post 2024, India will become the third largest in economic growth. PM Modi has the support of the entire nation.
TG: Is there a separate strategy in place for South Goa, given BJP’s loss last time?
Tanavade: No separate strategy for South Goa. It's the same for both the parliamentary seats. BJP lost by a nominal 9,000 votes in 2019 but we will bounce back and as I said before, BJP will win both the seats with a huge margin.
TG: Can people expect new faces this election, or will the party go ahead with old candidates?
Tanavade: It's a question mark till names are declared by the central committee. Regardless, BJP focuses on the symbol that each of us represents rather than individual persons. The party is preferred over a candidate.
