THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
With the Assembly elections barely six to eight months away, the BJP appears to have shifted into campaign mode in Mapusa, with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant holding a public grievance outreach while the party's youth wing simultaneously took up traffic issues with the police – moves that prompted political rivals and residents to question the timing of the sudden activism.
Sawant spent several hours meeting BJP karyakartas and residents from Mapusa and neighbouring areas at the party's North Goa district office, where people queued up to present civic and personal grievances before the chief minister.
Addressing the media later, Sawant said the outreach was an extension of the public grievance meetings he regularly conducts in his Sanquelim constituency.
"I have been meeting people every Saturday in Sanquelim to hear their grievances. I decided to meet the people of Mapusa and adjoining villages as well so that their issues can be heard and resolved," he said.
According to the Chief Minister, residents highlighted problems relating mainly to damaged roads and garbage management. He said he had instructed the municipal authorities concerned to take appropriate measures to address the complaints.
Coinciding with the Chief Minister's visit, a delegation of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) met the Mapusa Traffic Police in-charge and submitted a memorandum seeking immediate intervention in several traffic-related issues affecting the town.
The BJYM highlighted chronic congestion, illegal parking and pedestrian safety, particularly on roads used daily by students commuting to and from at least three colleges in the area.
The youth wing later said it remained committed to working with the administration for smoother traffic management and safer streets in Mapusa.
However, the twin exercises by the BJP did not go unnoticed among residents and opposition leaders, many of whom questioned why issues that have persisted for years were receiving attention only now.
"People of Mapusa have been living with these problems for the last four years. It is only when elections come near that politicians start visiting and trying to resolve people's issues," remarked a resident, requesting anonymity.
Congress General Secretary Vijay Bhike was even more scathing.
"They have woken up after 30 years. This is nothing but an election gimmick. They are afraid of losing the Mapusa assembly seat," Bhike alleged.
