PANAJI
The State BJP is targeting at least 30 of Goa’s 40 Assembly seats by reclaiming former strongholds, with president Damu Naik saying the goal is based on an assessment of its electoral record and organisational strength.
Speaking during an interaction with a national news channel, Naik said the party had identified constituencies it had won once or twice but does not currently represent, and was working to regain them.
“Our target is to win at least 30 seats,” he said, adding that the BJP was strengthening its grassroots network across the State’s 1,735 polling
booths.
Vote share gap
Naik acknowledged that the BJP’s vote share drops from around 52 per cent in Lok Sabha elections to 33-34 per cent in Assembly polls. He attributed this to local issues, political equations, independent candidates and individual candidates’ influence, adding that the party was working to bridge the gap and expand its
support base.
Development record
Defending the government’s performance, Naik said Goa’s per capita income had risen from around Rs 2.89 lakh in 2010-12 to over Rs 7 lakh. He also said the State ranked second among smaller States in assessments linked to NITI Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals, citing progress in healthcare and infrastructure.
Collective effort
Amid indications that several former leaders are planning a comeback, Naik said individual ambitions must give way to collective
efforts.
“Everyone will have to work together for the party. Every individual has an important role in the organisation, and collective efforts will be crucial to achieving our target,” he said.
