PANAJI
After more than a fortnight of ‘tarik pe tarik’, BJP’s Parliamentary Board finally revealed its candidate for South Goa, a decision that drew sharp criticism from the Opposition.
The move to introduce a newcomer -- the heavyweight industrialist Pallavi Dempo -- has raised questions over BJP’s commitment to its grassroots supporters.
It may be noted that while the party has harped on 50 per cent reservation of Lok Sabha for women, loyal women karyakartas including Sulakshana Sawant, wife of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who is actively involved in politics, were deprived of this opportunity.
Besides Sulakshana, names like Shefali Vaidya, Vidhya Gaude and Suvarna Tendulkar initially emerged as potential candidates when the party sought to include women in its candidate pool.
This internal dynamics has now become the centre of controversy with the Opposition ridiculing the ruling party over ignoring grassroot leaders.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao was the first to take to social media criticizing the BJP for bending to the industrialist family. “Dedication, sacrifice, and hard work of loyal karyakartas are laid to rest by the pro-crony and anti-poor @BJP4India by giving South Goa Lok Sabha ticket to an industrialist. A clear reflection of helplessness of @BJP4Goa leadership before dictatorship in Delhi,” he said in his post on X.
President of Goa Forward Party Vijai Sardesai also took a dig at the BJP stating no BJP candidate is worthy of South Goa. “By nominating Pallavi Dempo as their South Goa candidate, @BJP4Goa has admitted what the people of Goa have always believed -- there’s not a single party member, in the entire BJP parivar, including Mahila Morcha, who could face the discerning, politically conscious, questioning Goemkar voters of South Goa,” he stated.
Throughout the delays, BJP State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade reiterated that the Lotus symbolizes their candidate, emphasizing the importance of selecting a candidate with a strong chance of winning.
However, with this development, Congress is accusing the BJP of relying too heavily on financial resources rather than merit or ideology.
“Central Election Committee meeting on March 23 was just a farce. Lok Sabha tickets will be decided by crony capitalists through three idiots (posting the pictures of PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President J P Nadda)… BJP is governed by pro-rich and anti-poor …” it said on social media.
BJP has won the seat only on two occasions in 1999 when Ramakant Angle secured the seat and in 2014, when Narendra Sawaikar won. Since then, the party has been striving to achieve a clean sweep of all seats in the state.
Sardesai has added that the party is facing credibility and reputation crisis with Goan voters as it is using the Dempo tag to win South Goa.
