VASCO
Hitting out at BJP State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade, NCP State President Jose Philip D'Souza on Tuesday said he did not need advice from long lost one-time MLA like Tanavade.
D’Souza was responding to statements by Tanavade that he should first contest civic polls before seeking to contest against Mauvin Godinho from the Dabolim constituency.
Speaking to reporters, D’Souza said there was considerable fear within the BJP ever since he had announced his wish to contest assembly elections from Dabolim.
"I am not sure why he (Tanavade) unnecessarily made a statement against me. Tanavade may be reminded that I am a two-term MLA and former minister who was involved in getting late Manohar Parrikar elected as chief minister for the first time, because of which Tanavade is today the state president of BJP.”
"Parrikar had come to me and with my help, formed the BJP-led government for the first time. Tanavade must not forget this. I only lost elections after there was delimitation of Vasco constituency and New Vaddem area was moved out of the constituency."
“Tanavade is only a long lost one-time MLA, while I have won council elections and even went on to win assembly elections on two occasions.”
“The Dabolim MLA and minister is feeling very insecure about my entry. The BJP has realised that most people of Dabolim are with me. In fact, I had called Tanavade and asked him why he had made a statement against me, but he denied having made the statement,” said D’Souza.
NCP State General Secretary Pritam Naik challenged Tanavade to get re-elected from any constituency in the State.
"Our leader Jose Philip D’Souza has won civic polls and even assembly elections and efficiently handled major portfolios like civil supplies, revenue, factories and boilers, river navigation and even headed the MPDA, something which Tanavade can only dream about.”
“Godinho and BJP are scared of D’Souza and his ever-growing supporter base in Dabolim,” said Naik.
