MAPUSA
State BJP President Sadanand Tanavde on Saturday said the BJP does not believe in giving 4/5 tickets in a family but refused to make a commitment whether the party was comfortable to issue tickets to two in a family.
Tanavde also refused to come clear on alliance with the MGP, the oldest regional party in the State and its former ally but said the BJP was 100 per cent confident of winning the 2022 assembly elections on its own strength even if the elections were declared tomorrow.
“BJP does not give 4/5 tickets to members of one family. We are ready to face the electorate even if the elections are held tomorrow. We can declare all the 40 candidates within 15 days,” Tanavde said.
When asked whether the party will concede and offer tickets to two in a family, he said, “We will decide on the matter when the elections are announced.”
The statement assumes significance as Ports Minister and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo had recently made a claim for BJP ticket for his wife Delilah Lobo either from Saligao or Siolim constituencies.
The State BJP President expressed helplessness in restraining its leaders from making claims for candidature in the media.
“Showing interest in contesting is one thing and the party taking a decision on the candidature is totally a different ball game. We had requested the party workers not to go public in staking their claim for tickets. What can we do if they are not ready to fall in line,” he said.
He said the party follows a process while declaring a candidate wherein the State election committee of BJP will recommend names to the parliamentary board which will take a final call on the candidate.
“Elections are six months away. There is still time to decide on candidates,” he said.
Tanvade, however, refused to give a categorical reply on whether the party has snapped all its ties with MGP.
“Nothing can be said during an election. As of today, the BJP is capable to win in all the 40 constituencies on its own strength,” he said.
Congratulating the appointment of former Speaker and ex-minister, Rajendra Arlekar as Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Tanavde said that it was a wrong perception that senior leaders in the party were being sidelined from the main-stream politics by offering gubernatorial posts and other positions.
“Senior party leaders in their wisdom decide on the role for every party worker. Whatever positions we are given we take it. The party decided that Rajendra Arlekar was the right person for the gubernatorial post,” he said.
He said Arlekar was a party pracharak and held various positions in the party.
