THURSDAY, MAY 02, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Day after resigning as MLA, Jayesh Salgaonkar defected to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday.
In what could be a show of strength by the then Goa Forward Party leader, whose induction into the BJP was opposed by party functionaries from Saligao, huge supporters thronged the BJP headquarters in Panjim where his entry was held in the presence of Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, BJP State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade and other senior leaders.
“Jayesh has joined BJP for the development of his constituency. Many more leaders will join in the days to come,” the CM said as he also took a jibe at GFP for using Salgaonkar to call itself a Bahujan Samaj Party.
The ex-Saligao MLA said he took this step to serve the people of his constituency. “I am joining BJP to serve the people of Saligao. Majority of developmental works is done in my constituency but some works are remaining,” he said.
Tanavade has said that BJP is equated with development and that Goa has witnessed development since the time BJP has come to power.
The BJP on Thursday witnessed strong opposition from its supporters of Saligao Mandal Committee who claimed the party betrayed them. They warned to field an independent candidate in Saligao. The resentment from its block members forced BJP president to dissolve the committee in the constituency.
