PANAJI
Even government agencies did not believe that the BJP would win the February 14 assembly polls, state Bharatiya Janata Party president Sadanand Shet Tanavade said on Friday.
Tanavade was speaking at a function in Panaji to felicitate party workers for their efforts put in during the lead-up to the February polls.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was also present.
Tanavade said, “In the run-up to the polls, reports were going from Goa that the BJP is not going to do well. Even the government agencies were sending reports that the party is not going to do well. But we were confident in our figures. We had sent a report saying that we are going to win 22 seats.”
“But they were asking us, how can you say 22 seats when all other agencies were saying that the party is not going to reach those numbers. But thanks to the hard work of our karyakartas who we had placed our faith in and on the basis of which we had sent our report didn’t let us down,” Tanavade stated.
He said the people of the State through the assembly election verdict have given representation to the party in the assembly from all 12 talukas.
He said it was clear that the people of Goa had faith in the party and therefore did not fall for the campaigns of the Opposition parties, including the Congress, the MGP, TMC and AAP who all made massive promises.
The BJP emerged as the single largest party in the February 14 polls against all odds, with political experts and state and central intelligence agency reports suggesting that anti-incumbency could put paid to the party’s hopes of a victory.
The BJP eventually won 20 seats in a 40 member state assembly and now has the support of five non-BJP MLAs.
Meanwhile, Tanavade also broached the subject of getting ready to work and ensure a win in both the Lok Sabha seats when elections are held in 2024.
He said the party organisations in each of the 40 constituencies should set sights on ensuring leads in their respective assembly segments for the party nominees in both the Lok Sabha seats.
BJP general secretary (Organisation) Satish Dhond, who is being touted as the bulwark of the party election machinery, also addressed the workers.
