Team Herald
PANJIM: The ruling coalition, that wrested a majority of the panchayats in their constituencies, sees the panchayat election results as having demolished the notion that Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the Independents joining hands with the Manohar Parrikar-led BJP has not gone down well with the electorate.
GFP Ministers Vinod Palyekar, Jayesh Salgaonkar, (IND MLAs) Rohan Khaunte, Govind Gawade and MLA Prasad Gaonkar, all managed to take hold of the panchayats in their constituencies, as did the BJP MLAs in theirs.
“The victory is a slap on opposition face, who were accusing BJP of stealing the mandate from them. The panchayat victory is a clear indication that people are still with BJP and its coalition partners,” BJP President Vinay Tendulkar told Herald.
GFP reacted in a similar manner. “The mandate vindicates the decision taken by GFP and its leader Vijai Sardesai to form the government for Goenkarponn,” Party President Dr Renuka da Silva said. She said that the opposition has to introspect and give up its directionless and thoughtless criticism of the present government.
While the opposition has charged BJP of robbing the mandate, political experts have criticised the move of GFP and Independents to support BJP. There was speculation that the coalition partners may face a backlash when they go to the people in the panchayat polls. However, the alliance partners managed to retain their hold on the villages.
“People, who were speaking against me for extending support to BJP for government formation, today supported my candidates for the panchayat election. This proves that people have admitted that I took a right decision,” Priol IND MLA and Minister for Art and Culture Govind Gawade said.
Siolim MLA and Minister for Water Resources Vinod Palyekar said, “People’s support shows that our decision to go with BJP was not wrong,” he said.
Salgaonkar said that to undertake development one needs to be in power. “The vote share of the candidates supported by our party proves that the decision to go with BJP to form government was absolutely right. People have appreciated our decision,” he said.
The Housing Minister claimed that people have realised that no development can take place if you are not in power.
Rohan Khaunte was not available for comment, but thanked the people on social media for reposing faith in the panel backed by him. “Socorro, Salvador do Mundo have reposed faith in our panel and elected us to the VP. We will continue to work towards the progress and inclusive and sustainable development of the village and make Porvorim a model constituency,” he tweeted.
