VASCO
Union Minister of State for Shipping and Tourism Shripad Naik on Thursday evening said it was strange that political parties who never had MPs from Goa were also claiming that they would win both Lok Sabha Seats from Goa in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Naik was speaking to reporters after the prize distribution ceremony of 33rd All India Major Ports Chess Tournament at Sada in the presence of Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) Chairperson Dr N Vinod Kumar and other dignitaries.
"In the past, a Congress party leader stated that the Congress would win both seats and we can understand that because the Congress party has at least one MP seat in South Goa. It is, however, strange that some political parties who don’t even have one seat in Goa like the Revolutionary Goans or the Aam Admi Party are also claiming that they will win both LS seats from Goa,” said Naik.
“This is the work of misguiding people and when parties have no major role to play in the Assembly, what will be their role in the Parliament?" asked Naik. "We have already begun preparations for the Lok Sabha elections and the candidate will be decided by our parliamentary board after proper study. I have already begun my preparations though I cannot comment whether I should be given the seat or whether I will be given the seat," said Naik.
"I have been the MP for 5 terms and my margin has always been on the rise. In 1999, I won with the margin of 38,000 votes and 58,000 votes in 2004. My margin went down in 2009 because the Government in Goa and centre was Congress and I still managed to win despite such stiff opposition with a margin of around 75,000 votes. In 2014, I won with a huge margin of around 1.05 lakh votes and I won the last MP election with around 88,000 votes. I am confident of winning this time with a margin of over one lakh votes because I have worked for the people as their MP for all these years," said Naik.
