HIS CLAIMS
>> Completed around 1,000 projects in the North Goa constituency in four terms as MP
>> In four terms, spent full amount of around Rs 26.85 crores under the MPLAD fund
THEY'RE COMING!
>> Several leaders of the BJP including Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Smriti Irani will be campaigning in Goa
>> Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is also expected to be part of the poll campaign in the State
PANAJI: Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik, who is attempting to win a record fifth term from the North Goa Lok Sabha seat admitted on Wednesday that some senior leaders like Laximikant Parsekar, Rajendra Arlekar and Dayanand Mandrekar are hurt with recent political developments and party decisions, adding however that they will work for his victory in North Goa.
“Dayanand Mandrekar is campaigning full day with me. We have covered 13 Assembly constituencies in the first round,” Naik said, while addressing a press conference in Panjai. Naik also said that as MGP has decided not to field a candidate for the Lok Sabha elections, they not supporting the BJP will have not much of an impact on the election.
Only the councillor of Mapusa Sudhir Kanolkar's supporters' votes will not come to me, he added.
Naik said, the two Goa Forward Party Ministers - Jayesh Salgaonkar and Vinod Palyekar - were with him while filing nominations and party leaders will be on dais in rallies which will be held in the next few days.
The minister claimed only a BJP government at the Centre can resolve the mining issue in Goa, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing an election meeting at an indoor stadium near Panaji on April 10.
When asked if the Supreme Court-imposed ban on the mining industry would impact his chances of winning the North Goa seat for the fifth consecutive time, Naik said: "We are making active efforts to resolve the issue. The BJP alone will resolve the issue, as our leadership is committed to it, which is why they will vote for the BJP."
Naik said that he had reached out to leaders of the Front as part of his poll campaign and assured them of every support to get the industry back on track.
"I have met them and explained to them the commitment of our leaders to resolve the issue."
Meanwhile, several leaders of the BJP including Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Smriti Irani will be campaigning in Goa. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is also expected to be part of the poll campaign in Goa, Naik said.
Meanwhile, Naik recalled that he has completed around 1,000 projects in the North Goa constituency in his four terms as MP.
He said that in all the four terms he has spent full amount of around Rs 26.85 crores under MPLAD fund.
