MARGAO
Making his first public appearance a day after he and his Goa Forward party MLA-elect offered support to the BJP to form the government, Vijai descended at the Damodar Linga temple near the Nehru stadium with wife Usha in tow. Attired in a celebration costume, Vijai offered prayers to the city’s presiding deity before his supporters and well wishers exchanged gulal to mark the festivity.
“Even my own family has reservations on the decision in offering support to BJP in forming the government. But, I have taken the decision to take the Goa Forward agenda forward and deliver on our manifesto,” Vijai told the media near the Linga Tallai (tank), opposite the temple.
Admitting that people appear unhappy with his decision, Vijai, however, said one has to take a certain political stand, adding “the decision was taken keeping in mind the backlash. He, however, reassured that people of Goa will benefit eventually by the decision.
“It was indeed a quick decision. The situation was such that we had to act fast since some of the Congress MLAs were in touch with the BJP leadership,” he said, adding that a common minimum programme will guide the functioning of the new government to protect the
interest of Goem.
