Team Herald 

PANJIM: Considering a good voter turnout for the Parliamentary polls and three by-elections in the State, the Congress party has expressed confidence that it would sweep all five seats with thumping majority. 

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar also said that the ruling BJP “is busy spreading falsehood claiming their victory, in a bid to safeguard its Panjim assembly seat, which is going for polls on May 19.”

“The voting trend shows clear mandate for Congress. We are going to win both Lok Sabha seats and assembly constituencies of Mapusa, Mandrem and Shiroda as people have accepted us largely. Also, there is no more Narendra Modi wave, which helped BJP to win 2014 Lok Sabha seats,” Kavlekar said. 

Congress leader has urged BJP to desist itself from false propaganda of its victory. “On the day of polling itself, BJP leaders were busy spreading lies that the party is winning all seats. The attempt was basically to divert voters. But people had already made up their mind to defeat BJP,” he said. 

Kavlekar said that people have taken this election as an opportunity to teach BJP a lesson for stealing their mandate given to Congress in 2017 elections. “People are the ultimate rulers and we cannot overrule their decision. BJP did that and will face the music now,” he stated. 

He recalled how in 2017 elections, BJP was reduced from 21 seats to 13 seats, and five Ministers including Chief Minister was defeated. “BJP should not take voters for granted,” he commented. 

Kavlekar said that both in North and South Goa, congress has an edge. “Even though, five talukas in South Goa has large chunk of Hindu voters, Congress is going to win in all. Salcete and Quepem has always been Congress bastion and now Sanvordem, Canacona, Sanguem, will also vote for Congress,” he said.