the goan I network
PANAJI
In remarks that may cause heartburn among the allies in the coalition government, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has asked BJP cadre to help build the party so that it will not have to depend on allies in forming the government next time.
Addressing booth-level workers at Panaji, Sawant said presently, the BJP is dependent on support from its allies and other Independent MLAs as it doesn’t have a majority of its own in the Assembly.
“It is imperative that BJP gets the numbers so that it can form the government on its own. We must work hard to ensure the victory of both our Lok Sabha candidates and the bypoll candidates keeping in mind the future that BJP has to form the government on its own”, he said.
“We want Modi government at the Centre so that Goa can be further developed. We don’t want to continue for just 3 years, but our sight should be on the next elections”, he told party workers.
It may be recalled that the coalition government had come under strain last week after Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai called up Sawant over his purported media statement that the BJP’s tally would reach 18 after the by-election and that the party would have a majority in the Legislative Assembly with a group of MLAs expressing their willingness to join the party.
Sawant later clarified that even though the BJP’s tally in the Assembly would go up to 18 after the four bypolls, the coalition government would continue in office with the support of the Alliance partners, including Goa Forward party.
He further went on to say that both Vijai Sardesai and Babu Ajgaonkar, who are currently deputy Chief Ministers in his Cabinet, will continue to hold the posts for the next three years.
