MARGAO
The BJP on Tuesday officially launched party’s campaign for the ensuing Lok Sabha election in minority Salcete from Nuvem constituency in a bid to wrest the South Goa seat from the Congress.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant with Congress-turned-BJP MLA, Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira in tow hopped from one village to another in Nuvem, meeting leaders and people in the constituency before they all descended at Nuvem for a programme. Power Minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar, Water Resources Department Minister Subhash Shirodkar, besides Congress-turned-BJP MLA Digambar Kamat attended the programme.
A confident looking Chief Minister made no bones of the fact that the BJP has launched its Lok Sabha election campaign in Salcete from Nuvem constituency. He exuded confidence of a big change in voting in favour of the BJP in Nuvem in the coming Lok Sabha polls.
He also told the media that the party’s Central leadership will decide on the candidate for South Goa, saying the party will field a strong and winnable candidate for the seat.
While the Chief Minister was scheduled to attend the programme at Nuvem village, he along with the Environment Minister made a quite visit to the constituency, calling on local leaders and people in the villages of Nagoa, besides Majorda.
At Majorda, sources said the Chief Minister had an interaction with a group of locals wherein the Chief Minister has promised to resolve their pending grievances.
Later speaking at the programme at Nuvem, the Chief Minister made a fervent plea to the people of Nuvem constituency not to fall prey to the people who will come to divide them on the basis of caste and creed.
Referring to the Uniform Civil Code, the Chief Minister said UCC has brought together the Hindus, Muslims and Catholics, giving them equal rights. “The UCC is now being sought to be introduced across the country. The State of Uttarakhand has brought a Legislation introducing UCC in the state,” he said.
Asserting that the BJP is working for the last person in the community, the Chief Minister stood as a guarantee to the promises made to the people of Nuvem by MLA Aleixo Sequeira.
In his address, the Environment Minister said the Chief Minister has not said no to any of the proposals he proposed to usher in the development of Nuvem. “When I took up the issue of water shortage in certain areas of Nuvem constituency, the Chief Minister said it will take some time to lay a pipeline. But he has sanctioned around 5,000 overhead water tanks via a scheme meant only for the people of Nuvem constituency to ameliorate the hardships faced by the people,” he said.
Sequeira further pointed out that he has taken up the responsibility of providing fertilisers, paddy seeds and harvester to the farmers of Nuvem constituency. He also told the people of the special train heading to the pilgrim centre of Vailankani on March 12.
He, however, made a fervent plea to the people of Nuvem to remain united behind the BJP in the coming election. “We will strengthen the hands of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Prime Minister Narendra Modi if Nuvem gives a lead for the BJP in the Lok Sabha election. If we give a lead for the BJP, then I will have the right to demand from the CM to resolve all issues plaguing Nuvem,” he said.
In fact, Sequeira requested the people of Nuvem with folded hands to support the BJP, promising that the BJP will resolve all the issues faced by the people.
Sawant woos Catholic STs, says party committed to resolve political quota
MARGAO: In a bid to woo the Catholic Scheduled Tribes towards the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha polls, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said the BJP is committed to resolve the issue of political reservations for the Scheduled Tribes saying four Assembly seats will be reserved for the ST community in the 2027 Assembly polls.
The Chief Minister further went on to say that the political reservations for the ST community is not only applicable for the Hindus, but Catholic ST population as well.
Given that Nuvem constituency plays host to a significant ST population, the Chief Minister said the BJP and the incumbent Nuvem MLA and Minister Aleixo Sequeira will back a Catholic ST community leader in the event Nuvem Assembly seat is reserved for the ST community.
“The BJP is committed to provide political reservations for the ST community in the 2027 Assembly election. As per the latest figures, the ST community is eligible for reservations in four Assembly seats. Even our Catholic brothers and sisters will be eligible for the reservations. It may so happen that Nuvem seat will also be reserved for the ST community. Our Minister Aleixo Sequeira has no issue if Nuvem seat too is reserved for the ST community,” the Chief Minister said.
