PANAJI: Former Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar formally returned to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday at a programme held at Atal Bhavan, in the presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, BJP State President Damodar Naik, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and other senior party leaders.
"You are all ready to ensure the Lotus blooms again in Mandrem and across Goa in the 2027 elections," CM Sawant said, welcoming Parsekar and the returning karyakartas into the BJP. He expressed confidence that their return would strengthen the party's position in Mandrem and across Goa ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Parsekar, who had parted ways with the BJP in 2022, said a misunderstanding had led to his decision to distance himself from the party, adding that he was relieved to return along with his supporters. "In 2022, a decision was made out of certain misunderstandings, and most of you stood steadfastly by my side. Today, we are putting a full stop to that chapter," Parsekar said.
He clarified that neither he nor his supporters had joined another political party during this period. He said he had felt regret that several dedicated workers had remained away from the BJP because of his decision. "Today, I feel completely relieved and relaxed because I am back with all of you, ready to strengthen the Bharatiya Janata Party," he said. Parsekar said his return marked the beginning of an effort to strengthen the party across Goa, starting with Mandrem. He called on workers to carry the momentum from constituency to constituency and undertake whatever responsibilities the party assigned them.
He also recalled that despite being outside the BJP during the last Lok Sabha elections, he had supported the party's candidates and appealed to voters to elect Shripad Naik in North Goa and Pallavi Dempo in South Goa to strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.
Welcoming Parsekar and the returning karyakartas, Naik described the induction as an expansion of the party's family. He said the BJP needed to overcome internal differences and work collectively to improve its performance in the 2027 Goa Assembly elections. Naik pointed out that the BJP had secured 52 per cent vote share in both the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, but its share had dropped to around 33 to 34 per cent during Assembly elections.
Attributing the difference to misunderstandings, internal discord, incumbency pressures and divisions among party workers, he said the party could replicate its Lok Sabha performance in the Assembly elections if its cadre remained united. "If we can achieve 52 per cent in the Lok Sabha, we can certainly achieve it in the Assembly," he said.
Naik expressed confidence that the BJP could win between 27 and 30 seats in the 2027 Assembly elections, citing constituencies such as Mandrem, Cuncolim and Fatorda, which he said the party had lost due to internal divisions despite winning them in the past.
He described the 2027 elections as a crucial milestone towards achieving 'Viksit Goa 2037', in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Viksit Bharat 2047'. Several other karyakartas from the Mandrem constituency were also formally inducted into the BJP along with Parsekar.
