CANACONA
Mindful of the need to reach out to separate groups led by Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar and former minister Isidore Fernandes, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant held different meetings along with the South Goa BJP Candidate Pallavi Dempo to mobilise unity and support among both groups.
Addressing hundreds of supporters in the presence of Fernandes at Loliem-Polem, Sawant conveyed the message that every vote cast for BJP’s Pallavi Dempo would be a vote to make Narendra Modi the prime minister for the third time in a row.
“Credit for these votes will go to the people of Canacona and no one else,” Sawant told the supporters, allaying concerns from supporters of Fernandes that Tawadkar would claim credit for votes polled by BJP in Canacona.
There are several local BJP leaders like Shobhana Velip (ZP Poinguinim), Gaondongrem Sarpanch Dhillon (Yeshwant) Desai, Councillor Shubham Komarpant, former Shristhal sarpanch Devendra Naik, former president Canacona BJP Mandal Nandip Bhagat, former Block Treasurer Suraj Komarpant and former Yuva Adhyaksh (BJP block) Satish Gosavi who are staunch supporters of Fernandes.
Aware that these local leaders have a sizeable number of supporters, the chief minister made it a point to reassure them that credit for BJP’s success would not be attributed to any one individual.
Sawant commended Fernandes by stating that even though Fernandes stayed away from politics following the loss of his son in Portugal, he had managed to gather a large number of his supporters in just one day’s notice.
Pallavi Dempo claimed that the Fernandes and Dempo family have had close relations for the last 35 years, and he spoke on the development works by the Dempo family in the social, educational and sports sectors.
Speaking on the occasion, Fernandes was visibly satisfied at the large turnout at short notice. Admitting there are many problems plaguing the people of Canacona, Fernandes, however, said this was not the time to talk about those problems.
Fernandes said he would continue to raise the issues with the chief minister and demanded that the chief minister should ensure a minimum of 300 jobs to Canacona youth. He pledged his full support to Pallavi Dempo and to get her elected with a huge margin.
Sawant later headed to address another public meeting at Amone-Poinguinim in the presence of Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar.
All 3 Canacona BJP leaders, supporters with us: Sawant
Seeking to showcase BJP’s unity in Canacona, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said all three BJP leaders in Canacona and their respective supporters were fully backing the party.
“Not only Isidore, and his supporters, but former Canacona MLA Vijay Poi Khot and his supporters are also with us. So is the case with Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar and his supporters. All Canconcars are with Pramod Sawant and Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” said Sawant.
“That’s why it is possible for us to claim a lead of 10,000 votes in Canacona. Of the over 34,000 votes, more than 29,000 votes will be cast, and BJP will get more than 20,000 votes in Canacona,” he added.
