PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said he remains focused on governance and has little time to worry about Opposition politics, expressing confidence that voters will judge his government’s performance before the next Assembly election.
In an interview with television news channel Prudent, Sawant said the BJP government would be judged on its work over five years and not political rhetoric.
“I don’t care whether they are united or divided. Frankly, I have no time for their politics as the burden of the responsibility given to me is huge,” Sawant said, referring to the Opposition.
He said Goa’s voters are mature and will compare the performance of his government with previous administrations before casting their votes.
Sawant also addressed speculation over BJP ticket distribution for the next Assembly election, denying that he has a decisive role in selecting candidates. “I am only one person in the process and I do not decide the tickets,” he said.
Emphasising the BJP’s organisational structure, Sawant said candidate selection follows a structured mechanism involving the party’s central leadership and election committee. “We are a national party. There is a central organisation and we follow a structured process through the organisation and election committee,” he said.
On the possibility of sitting legislators being denied tickets, Sawant said electoral politics naturally brings change, with new faces entering the Assembly in successive elections.
“Every election at least 30 per cent of the MLAs elected are new,” he said.
Citing past trends, he said several legislators elected in 2012 did not return in 2017, while the 2022 Assembly saw an even larger influx of newcomers. “In fact, over 40 per cent of the House was new in 2022,” Sawant said.
He added that “winnability” remains an important factor considered by all political parties while selecting candidates.
The Chief Minister also stressed the importance of maintaining cordial relations across party lines, saying he enjoys a good rapport with legislators from both the ruling party and the Opposition.
Sawant said every MLA represents the aspirations of people in their constituency and deserves fair treatment from the government.
A Chief Minister, he said, must ensure equitable development and administrative support irrespective of political affiliation. “Why should the people from their constituencies suffer?” Sawant asked.
