State unit chief seeks to distance BJP from controversy; stresses that JD(S) has taken action against MP
State BJP President Sadanand Tanavade and other leaders addressing a press conference in Mapusa on Wednesday.
Photo Credits: Agnelo Pereira
MAPUSA
In the wake of a purported sex scandal involving a JD(S) MP, an alliance partner with the BJP in Karnataka, BJP State President Sadanand Tanavade has fervently defended his party against any potential fallout.
Tanavade addressed concerns on Wednesday, asserting that the scandal surrounding the JD(S) MP would not adversely affect the prospects of BJP candidates in the State.
He emphasised that national elections in India are predominantly contested on broader issues, suggesting that isolated incidents in one region would not sway voters on a national scale.
Expressing confidence in the BJP’s performance in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Goa, Tanavade remained unwavering in his stance, stating that the scandal would have negligible impact on the electoral fortunes of BJP candidates in the State.
“The issue (sex scandal) will have no impact on the prospects of our candidates, Shripad Naik and Pallavi Dempo,” Tanavade maintained.
However, Tanavade acknowledged the potential repercussions within Karnataka, where the controversy involving Prajwal Revanna, the JD(S) MP embroiled in the scandal, has put the BJP on the defensive.
Despite the alliance between the BJP and JD(S) in Karnataka, Tanavade sought to distance his party from the controversy, stressing that the MP concerned did not belong to the BJP and that the JD(S) had taken disciplinary action against him.
“I am not justifying it (sex scandal). It should have not happened. It’s an issue of that party. They have thrown him out,” he said.
In response to queries regarding background checks on candidates, particularly those from allied parties, Tanavade cited challenges in scrutinising individuals from other political factions.
He suggested that the BJP might have been unable to conduct a thorough background check on Revanna before his candidature was finalised.
Asserting the BJP’s commitment to women’s welfare, Tanavade highlighted the party’s initiatives for women empowerment since coming to power in 2014.
He underscored the BJP’s support for “Nari Shakti” (women empowerment), attributing a surge in female support to the BJP’s governance at the national level.
Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi backed and campaigned extensively for the controversial MP from Hassan (Karnataka) which went to polls in the second phase of the elections.
Tanavade’s efforts to defend the BJP amidst the alleged scandal reflect the party’s resolve to mitigate any adverse impact on its electoral prospects, particularly in the crucial battleground states like Goa.
