OLD GOA
Ruling out any tie-up with the MGP in the forthcoming assembly elections, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar came down heavily on the MGP for not following the alliance “dharma” even while enjoying the fruits at the cost of the BJP.
"There will not be any alliance with the MGP because it is that party which did not obey alliance dharma," Parsekar informed a huge gathering that had gathered for the St Cruz Vijay Sankalp Mahamelava at Merces, on Wednesday night.
“Despite having only three MLAs, the BJP gave two ministries to the MGP with very important portfolios like the PWD while sacrificing the ambition of its own MLAs,” Parsekar said while stating that the BJP was kind enough because it believed in alliance dharma.
"Whichever government may be in power, they always demand PWD," Parsekar said in a critical tone.
The chief minister also took a dig at Congress for calling Mauvin Godinho its waste despite him working for decades and strengthening the party.
“Mauvin did not backstab the Congress. He left only after completing his tenure of five years, resigned and then joined BJP. He was disillusioned with his party and fell in love with BJP because of development,” he added.
“Where Congress sees waste, BJP sees gold. And it is for everybody to see as they produced Sonsodo, but BJP gave the Saligao waste plant, where energy and fertilizer is generated out of waste. This is the difference between BJP and Congress,” Parsekar opined, while stating that Cumbarjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar is also joining BJP because of development.
The chief minister further admitted that in the last assembly elections, the BJP made a mistake by conceding the St Cruz seat to the MGP, but then said he feels sorry for the St Cruz voters because the Congress MLA (Babush Monserratte) was thrown out by his own party.
“Only the Congress can do such things. Calling some MLAs waste and throwing out others,” he chided, while stating that Congress should feel ashamed of itself for its conduct.
Parsekar then made a fervent appeal to the St Cruz voters to vote for a candidate who would fulfill the aspirations of the development hungry constituents.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza stated that a stable government is the need of the hour for development of the State and appealed to the electorate to give the BJP 26 seats in the forthcoming elections. “Goa has two ministers in the central government who have successfully brought huge developmental projects in Goa,” D’Souza stated.
Art and Culture Minister Dayanand Mandrekar, BJP President Vinay Tendulkar, Sadanand Shet Tanavade, St Cruz BJP block president Girish Uskaikar, BJP vice-president Anil Hoble, North Goa general secretary Hemant Golatkar also spoke on the occasion.
OLD GOA: In sharp contrast to the proposed IIT at Loliem where the government is determined to go ahead with the project irrespective of public opposition, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said the government would go ahead with the IT Park project in Chimbel only after consulting locals.
“Some locals are being misguided by vested elements to oppose the project,” Parsekar said.
“The government will proceed with it only when understanding dawns on the people on the benefits of the project. First, we will begin the electronic city project in Tuem, which will enable the people to realise its tremendous advantages,” he added.
OLD GOA: The large turnout at the St Cruz BJP’s Vijay Sankalp Mahamelava has boosted the party's eagerness to contest elections from the constituency, following a virtual split in alliance with the MGP.
And the large crowd that turned up did not leave home disappointed as the leaders promised that this time around they won’t commit the mistake of not fielding its candidate in St Cruz.
Speaking at the meeting, BJP president Vinay Tendulkar said during 2012 elections the BJP was thinking of fielding its candidate here but after the elections were declared, it was forced to concede the seat to MGP as part of the alliance terms.
“But now, after the outbursts by the Dhavlikars against the chief minister, good times have come for the BJP here and the lotus will definitely bloom here,” Tendulkar added while stating that though the party ticket could be given to any candidate, all workers should remain united and support that candidate.
Later, speaking to The Goan, Tendulkar reiterated that the BJP would field its candidate in St Cruz constituency.
“While Panaji has become a smart city, St Cruz has become a garbage city and we have to clean the garbage,” he further said while promising that jobs will be provided to youth and the much needed development will be ushered in the constituency.
Sadanand Shet Tanavade also affirmed that if last time BJP had contested in St Cruz, its MLA would have been elected. “BJP will definitely fight election here and this seat will be among the 26 winning seats of the BJP after 2017 polls,” he added.
Art and Culture Minister Dayanand Mandrekar, too, said the mistake that the party committed in 2012 should be rectified in 2017 as the large turnout shows that it is time for the lotus to bloom in St Cruz.
