PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has asked BJP leaders, to introspect on why the party fared so badly in the Assembly elections. In a meeting with BJP ministers, MLAs, losing candidates and office-bearers, Parrikar also advised them to ‘connect with the people’.
“There are various factors why we slipped to mere 13 seats from an absolute majority (21 seats) in the 2012 elections. One of it was failing to connect with the people, which is why we lost the polls,” an MLA told Herald after the meeting held at Institute Menezes Braganza hall at Panjim on Wednesday.
Six of the eight ministers who were in the fray lost the polls to their rivals, adding to the party’s poor performance, which in 2012 emerged victorious. Then chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar besides Rajendra Arlekar, Mahadev Naik and Dilip Parulekar were amongst those who faced humiliating defeats.
Parrikar, in his hour-long address, also said that just welfare schemes will not make people happy as they need an MLA with a positive mindset. “Giving away schemes is not only what people expect. They need a good legislator who connects with them. Start working for the people and rebuild, connect,” another MLA said quoting Parrikar’s interaction with the party men.
Interestingly, Parsekar skipped the meeting while other defeated MLAs attended the meeting that also discussed strategy on BJP National President Amit Shah’s arrival on April 9, when he is slated to address a mega victory rally. “Let us show our strength,” Parrikar added.
