MAPUSA
Coming under the scanner on the flurry of works taken up just before the assembly elections, Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza said all the works that have been taken up in the last two months was not an election gimmick but works that got stalled due to Covid outbreak last year.
D’Souza, on Friday, also said that former minister Michael Lobo will not succeed in his plans to discredit the BJP, and people of Mapusa will once again give the saffron party the mandate in the ensuing polls.
“We started a lot of work and it’s definitely not because of the election. It’s not an election stunt. The works were in pipeline and some were tendered but got stalled due to the Covid outbreak last year. The works are going on in full swing for the development of Mapusa,” D’Souza said.
The Mapusa MLA was addressing the media after launching his election campaign in presence of Maharashtra MLA Ram Satpute, BMC Corporator Abhijeet Sawant and his karyakartas.
After holding a meeting with the ward members and booth karyakartas the campaign was kick-started from ward 3.
Continuing, D’Souza said former minister Michael Lobo can continue with his rant but it is the people of Mapusa who will decide what has to be done.
“Surprisingly, the candidate is not speaking and standing quiet like a puppet next to Lobo. I request the candidate to speak so that people of Mapusa know what is in his mind. They have no ammunition to counter my work so they are levelling allegations,” he said.
Lobo, while launching the election campaign of Congress candidate and his acolyte Sudhir Kandolkar had alleged that Mapusa had failed to see any work worth its salt in the last 20 years.
He had also pointed out that the work on the temporary bus stand was a scam as the GSIDC had claimed Rs 4.80 crore was spent on the bus stand when work of only Rs 1.80 crore was undertaken and vowed to conduct an inquiry in the matter once the new government was sworn-in.
“Michael has the habit of speaking any rubbish. Let any inquiry be done. No municipal fund has been used in the bus-stand work. The funds were spent by the Transport Department while GSIDC was only overseeing the work. He is trying to misguide the people,” D’Souza said.
The Mapusa MLA also said that if the people were not in favour of the TCP scheme to develop the downtown Mapusa then it will be scrapped.
“If the people do not want the TCP scheme, it should be thrown out. I am with people. What people want we will do. The matter is in court,” he said.
He further said the Mapusa seat has always been with the BJP and it will continue to be the same this time too.
“I have done maximum work in the two and half years that I got after getting elected in the by -election. I appeal to the voters for another five years and assure not to give any opportunity to the opposition to speak in 2027,” he said.
