PANJIM: In what could upset plans of many current MLAs, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to deny tickets to a few of its sitting legislators for the upcoming 2022 elections, as the party is banking on “winnability” and performance as the main criteria.
In an interview to a local news channel, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said that candidates proving their winnability would get a party ticket for the next Assembly polls and that the tickets will not be given merely because the person is a sitting MLA or Minister.
Sawant said the party has initiated a survey to ascertain who is capable of winning the elections in the respective constituencies. “Winnability will be the top criteria for giving a ticket. BJP wants to retain power and that cannot be compromised,” he said.
“Everyone cannot be assured a party ticket. That is impossible. Winnability, MLA’s performance, their social and public connect, everything matters when it comes to deciding on giving a ticket,” he said.
Sawant said that the current survey being undertaken by the party will give a clear picture as where every MLA stands as far as winnability and performance is concerned.
The Chief Minister said that the local BJP unit will recommend names to the Party’s Central Board, that will take the final call on ticket distribution.
The party is currently facing a tough situation with several former MLAs aspiring for tickets in the constituencies, which are currently represented by MLAs who defected to the BJP in the past years.
In 2017, BJP had managed to get 13 seats. However, it had formed the government in alliance with regional parties – Goa Forward Party (3), MGP (3) and Independent (3). Soon after the polls, Vishwajit Rane resigned from Congress – that had emerged as single largest party with 17 seats – and joined BJP.
In October 2018, two more Congress MLAs – Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte – joined the BJP. This was followed by MGP’s Manohar Ajgonkar and Deepak Pauskar in March 2019.
In July 2019, ten Congress MLAs including then sitting Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar joined the BJP.
The Sawant government has 29 MLAs (27 BJP) in the 39-member State Legislative Assembly, at present. With the resignation of Congress MLA Luizinho Faleiro, the Assembly strength has been reduced from 40 to 39.
