Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai cutting the cake to mark his 55th birthday at a grand celebration held at the ‘We for Fatorda’ grounds, Fatorda on Saturday.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Amid calls from political leaders urging him to lead the State in the 2027 elections, Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai used the occasion of his 55th birthday to underscore the need for unity to take charge of Goa by taking all people and sections together.
He reminded that Captain Viriato Fernandes became the South Goa MP because the people stood by the candidate and not because of the support extended by the political parties. “We have to forge unity amongst the people. We need to make sacrifices and I am ready to make the sacrifice for Goemkars and Goemkarponn so that we take charge of Goa and fulfil the aspirations of the people,” he said, while addressing supporters, party workers, well-wishers at the sprawling ‘We for Fatorda’ grounds, Fatorda on Saturday evening.
Political leaders, including Nationalist Congress Party chief Jose Philip D’Souza, BJP leader Dayanand Mandrekar, Kiran Khandolkar, Adv Radharao Gracias, former MLA Naresh Sawal and others stressed on the need for the Goa Forward chief to take the leadership to save Goa and take the State to great heights.
Urging the people to identify good and God fearing people who will help save the State and serve them better, Sardesai said the agenda for Goa will be drafted by taking everyone along.
Saying he has adopted the development by consent model in Fatorda to usher in development of the constituency, Sardesai stressed on the need to take the model across the State wherein development is planned and implemented in consultations with the people.
Stressing on the need for a strong opposition to take on the government head on, Sardesai reminded that a silent opposition will only kill democracy. “In the 2022 Assembly election, the non-BJP votes split amongst many parties. But, we have seen how the people have rallied behind Captain Viriato Fernandes to elect him as the South Goa MP,” he said.
In his address, NCP chief Jose Philip D’Souza said that the Goa Forward chief will one day become the Chief Minister of Goa. “The people of Goa want Sardesai to be the next Chief Minister of Goa. It is in your destiny,” he said.
Adv Radharao Gracias said the time has come to unite all forces to dislodge the BJP government in the 2027 elections. He said the Goa Forward chief has set a six-month ultimatum on the Congress to decide on what he termed as a proposal inviting Sardesai in the party fold. “Sardesai has to take the leadership since he is a born leader. But we need to unite everyone to go ahead,” he said.
Former MLA Naresh Sawal said the attention of entire Goa is focussed on Sardesai, adding, ‘we will all win the elections in 2027 and will be ready to rule Goa’.
