SANGUEM
Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral has maintained that the decision on the BJP’s candidate for the upcoming 2027 Assembly elections will be taken by the party through its established organisational process.
He was speaking to reporters amid speculation following Social Welfare Minister and Sanguem MLA Subhash Phal Dessai’s visit to temples in Curchorem constituency.
Asked about the possibility of another candidate being given the BJP ticket from Curchorem, Cabral said, “that the decision was not in the hands of any individual. The party will decide on that. Who am I to say anything? It is up to the party to decide.”
Cabral stressed that the BJP has a system in place for selecting candidates, involving the party’s core committee. Giving a ticket is not an individual’s decision. There is a system in the party, a core committee, and based on that, the party decides who should do what, he stated.
When questioned about the presence of multiple prospective BJP candidates in the constituency which includes Tohan Gauns Dessai, Cabral said several people may express an interest in contesting elections, but ultimately the party would take the decision. “In Goa, everyone wants a ticket, but there are no proper candidates everywhere. Talking about it won’t benefit anyone. Let the party decide,” he said.
On Phal Dessai’s temple visits in Curchorem and whether these indicated that the BJP was considering an alternative candidate, Cabral said, “I had not been aware of the visit beforehand. I was not aware, I received messages later.”
Cabral also dismissed suggestions that there was any immediate question of him stepping aside, pointing out that the Assembly elections were still several months away.
“Elections are still six months away. Elections will happen in February or March. Much can change before then,” he added.
