A political slugfest has erupted between BJP State president Damodar ‘Damu’ Naik and Goa Forward Party (GFP) president and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai over development in the Fatorda constituency.
The latest round of exchanges began after Naik, while addressing BJP workers last week, threw down the gauntlet to Sardesai, challenging him to a public debate on development and ‘signature projects’ in the constituency. “Show me one signature project undertaken in Fatorda constituency. The underground power cabling and laying of sewerage lines were started during my tenure. I am ready for debate on Fatorda development,” said Damu, a two-time former MLA from Fatorda.
He further added that the BJP would decide “at the appropriate time” who would contest the Fatorda seat in the 2027 Assembly elections. “It could be me or someone else,” Naik said, adding that the decision would be made collectively by the party leadership.
Naik also attributed his 2012 electoral defeat to changes brought by the delimitation of Assembly constituencies. Responding sharply to Naik’s remarks, Sardesai said, “I am not debating with Damu because he is a nobody in Fatorda. If he had lost the Assembly election in 2012 because of delimitation, then why did he contest the 2017 polls? Why did he again lose in the 2022 elections? Damu should debate with his BJP workers why he is continuing to contest even after so many debacles.”
On the subject of signature projects, Sardesai alleged that Naik’s only major ‘initiative’ was an alliance with Margao MLA Digambar Kamat to acquire 1.37 lakh square metres of farmland at Madel for a proposed truck terminus. “It would have created social tensions and goondagiri. We agitated against it and stopped it,” he said.
Sardesai added, “After I became a minister, within two months I got Rs 300 crore sanctioned for the sewage lines from Arlem to Shirvodem by replacing the old lines. This I did as part of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP). The old sewerage lines were leaking and causing a major health hazard.”
He pointed out that he has been elected from Fatorda three consecutive times due to such developmental works.
“He (Damu) should introspect and give a reply. If he has guts, he should take disciplinary action against his party MLA Govind Gaude, who called him an irresponsible politician,” Sardesai said.