MAPUSA
Union Minister of State for Ports and Shipping and BJP candidate for North Goa parliamentary seat, Shripad Naik on Tuesday hinted that 2024 could be his last attempt in electoral politics.
Naik also said that he would ask the senior party leaders to scout new candidates for the next Lok Sabha elections.
“Everything does not depend on age. But having said that, I am aware young leaders have ambitions and should be given an opportunity. I will inform the party leaders that it should groom other candidates for the 2029 parliamentary elections,” Naik said while responding to a query whether he believed giving young blood an opportunity to grow.
The union minister was addressing the media during the function to launch ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Patra Abhiyan’, North Goa at the party’s headquarters in Mapusa.
BJP State President Sadanand Tanavade, MLAs Michael Lobo, Joshua D’Souza, Kedar Naik and other senior leaders were also present.
Shripad has had a long innings having been elected for five terms for the Lok Sabha from North Goa. He was also twice appointed as minister for state at the centre.
On whether he was confident of getting nominated for the sixth time, Naik said that BJP functioned in a particular style and every leader worked to fulfil the responsibility tasked to him.
“So who will get the ticket is not important. Finally, whatever decision the party takes is done with thorough study,” he said.
He maintained that getting a ticket or not made no difference, as BJP karyakartas have a mission to work for the party and the country at large whether it is in power or not.
Echoing the BJP’s sentiments, State BJP President Sadanand Tanavade said the party was not concerned who its opposition was, as the voter has always given the party a thumping victory margin in North Goa.
“Our past record shows that we have always got more than 50 per cent votes and won. We do not believe in alliance. So even if the entire opposition comes together it will make no difference to the BJP. We depend 100 per cent on our karyakartas and people’s faith in us,” Tanavade reacted, when questioned whether the presence of the Revolutionary Goan Party will impact the elections.
