PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's comment on Wednesday suggesting that all BJP sitting MLAs won't be given tickets to contest the 2022 assembly polls, had potential to develop ulcers of worry in some ruling MLAs.
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho on Thursday went a step ahead recommending a surgical procedure on the BJP's legislative party to beat the anti-incumbency factor, stating that nearly 50 percent of the sitting MLAs should not be allotted tickets.
"I fully endorse CM's statement, because it is the right thing to do. It has been my statement too. I have been saying in every party forum, much to the annoyance of certain leaders, but it is a fact," Godinho said.
"In normal course, check the statistics, in every assembly there is a 40 percent change across parties. 60 percent stay back. Maybe we will have to do little more surgery and bring it to 50 percent, if need be," Godinho said, adding that sometimes to beat the anti-incumbency sentiment, it is wise on part of the party to not offer tickets to sitting MLAs who have not performed.
Godinho went on to offer three different analogies involving door frames, mangoes and jackfruits to make his point.
"You can craft door frames if you get good timber. But can you make a door frame with firewood? Can you build a house with it? We should understand that as a party," Godinho said, hinting at dropping legislative deadwood from current crop of party MLAs.
The Transport Minister also said that if the party continues to allot tickets to candidates who have not performed or have not been able to form a bond with the people, the party itself will fall with a thud like a ripe jackfruit drops off a tree during heavy rains.
"If one cannot win, what is the point in allotting a ticket. Like when it rains for a good spell, jackfruits drop from a tree with a big thud or mangoes fall without ripening. Should we too fall like that?" Godinho said.
Commenting on the emergence of the Trinamool Congress on Goa's political horizon, Godinho expressed fear that the West Bengal-based party would bring a culture of electoral violence to Goa.
"TMC may have won in Bengal, Mamata has also won. But out there violence is a culture. There is a culture of killing one another there (Bengal). They say 10,000 people will be brought from Bengal to ensure that their candidates win. Are you trying to bring the culture of violence to Goa," Godinho asked.
