the goan I network
MARGAO
As the Goa Forward Party braces up to make inroads in Cuncolim, the first stop in Salcete as part of the planned entry into the taluka, alliance partner, BJP isn’t going to play second fiddle to the regional party in Cuncolim constituency presently represented by the Congress.
With the party government headed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in power, the local unit of the BJP will continue its ongoing work in the constituency, irrespective of the alliance partner’s planned entry into Cuncolim on Sunday.
In fact, former BJP MLA, Rajan Naik told The Goan that the BJP has a strong presence in Cuncolim and there the work of the party will continue in the constituency with government’s support. “I do not think the planned entry of Goa Forward will impact the BJP in Cuncolim. Our work will continue. I had won from Cuncolim in the year 2012 by around 1000-plus votes by defeating Joaquim Alemao. In the last election, I lost by around 1000-odd votes, but the BJP had polled 5,000 votes in Cuncolim. This only goes to show that the party has a huge presence in the constituency,” Rajan said.
The former BJP MLA’s remarks assume significance and comes against the backdrop of the statement made by Joaquim Alemao that TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai
has promised to take Cuncolim forward after son Yuri joins the regional party on Sunday.
Rajan, however, pointed out that the BJP will continue its ongoing work in Cuncolim with the help of the party-led government. “What Goa Forward party plans to do in Cuncolim is not our look out. Party activities will continue without a stop in Cuncolim irrespective of Goa Forward’s entry into Cuncolim,”
Rajan said.
When asked whether any occasion will arise in the future when the party will have to leave the Cuncolim seat for the Goa Forward, Rajan shot back, “No, not at all. I do not see this possibility. And, there are a couple of constituencies, including Fatorda, Siolim, Saligao and others which shows the presence of both the BJP and Goa Forward.”
Sources in the Cuncolim unit of the BJP say there’s no dearth of candidates in the BJP camp to contest the Assembly election from the constituency on the Lotus symbol. Rajan himself is not averse in throwing his hat in the ring in the next election on the party banner if his services are sought by the party leadership.
The BJP had made history in Cuncolim in the 2012 Assembly election when Rajan Naik contesting on the Lotus symbol rode to victory for the first time on a strong anti-Congress plank. The party, however, could not retain the Cuncolim seat in the last election, with Rajan finishing third after Congress candidate Clafacio Dias winning and Joaquim Alemao finishing second.
Local political observers say the BJP had got a shot in the arm in Cuncolim post-delimitation of constituencies, when additional villages of Balli and Ambaulim,
which has a strong party voter-base, were included in the constituency.
