PANAJI
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday conceded that an unprecedented voting percentage came as a surprise as Goa's turnout exceeded all the states and UT that went to polls till date.
The party claimed this was a promising sign that BJP is securing victory with a huge vote margin in both parliamentary seats while lashing out at the Congress for allegedly playing religion and caste politics to woo voters during the polls.
“We are grateful for the overwhelming voter turnout in Goa. This shows that BJP will clinch victory with over one lakh and 60,000 vote margin in North and South parliamentary seats respectively,” Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said while addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Panaji on Wednesday.
He reiterated that the party will lead in all 20 constituencies across North Goa from where the five-time MP Shripad Naik has contested and 14 constituencies in South with highest lead from Savordem.
BJP State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade, also admitted that the polling percentage did cross their expectations, attributing it to the hard work and campaigning efforts of the ministers, party MLAs and workers.
Sawant further slammed that Congress attempted to divert the attention from development to focusing on divisive politics during the elections. “Instead of focussing on development, Congress played religion and caste politics all through this election. Congress had already accepted defeat and INDI alliance will dissolve after the results,” he added.
Five-time MP and North Goa candidate Shripad Naik reiterated he will not contest the 2029 Lok Sabha polls, clearly indicating this is his last election. “I have already conveyed my wish to the party high command and now it is for them to take a final decision,” he said.
Naik had announced his future exit from Lok Sabha last year, stating the 2024 polls would be his last. Earlier, Tanavade had responded to the statement claiming that the party will decide Naik’s retirement.
