PANAJI
BJP National President Amit Shah will arrive in Goa and address a public rally in Goa on April 9 as part of the party’s celebrations at having successfully managed to set up a government in the State despite not being given the mandate by the people.
The ‘felicitation’ comes against the backdrop of a mixed response from sections of Goa populace which is yet to stomach the manner in which the BJP has stitched together a coalition government.
Confirming the development, State Party President Vinay Tendulkar said the massive rally which could be attended by more than 20,000 BJP party members will be to thank Shah for helping orchestrate a return to power in the State.
“We are achieving success under Shah’s leadership. We have also been able to form government in four states. So we have organised this rally in honour of our national president,” Tendulkar said.
The party has successfully formed the government in four states out of five which went to the polls -- Uttar Pradesh, where they secured a full majority, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa -- the latter two through political expediency and chicanery. Among the achievements listed by the state unit included Shah’s orchestration that helped Modi come to power in 2014 and winning Uttar Pradesh in 73 out of 80 seats. Similarly the party credits Shah with coming to power in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, and Assam and his only failures being Bihar in 2015 and Punjab this year.
The move by the BJP is unlikely to be well received by those disturbed by the manner in which the party has usurped power despite having won only 13 seats in the 40 member assembly. The party’s move to yet win over members of the Congress in a bid to add stability to their government are also being met with derision.
