Team Herald
Margao: Even as the grandson of former Margao MLA and Minister (late) Babu Naik, Prabhav Naik, joined the BJP on Friday and is believed to be a candidate at the ensuing municipal elections, BJP State President Sadanand Shet Tanavde said his party was not only willing to contest the municipal elections but will sweep it by winning in all municipalities.
Sadanand was speaking to media persons after admitting Prabhav and 14 others into the party. He said, “BJP is ready to contest the municipal elections as and when they are held on party lines, if so decided. We shall win all the municipal elections including the City Corporation of Panaji as and when they are held.”
He pointed out that BJP had also stated that they will take control of both the Zilla Panchayats (ZPs), North and South, on their own strength and added that when the elections were held the BJP won in 33 of the 49 constituencies even though there were various demonstrations and protests organised by the Opposition parties and even NGOs.
“The issues of coal transportation, railway double tracking etc, were raised by the Congress and other political parties to sully the name and image of the BJP but Chief Minister Pramod Sawant sailed through all that and today the BJP is set to have its own chairperson and deputy in both the ZPs,” he added.
“A few days before the elections of the chairperson and deputy of the ZPs, the party will meet to decide who should occupy these positions, he said while responding to a question. He further added that ‘seniority may not be the only criterion to decide who will occupy these positions’.
While avoiding the question on whether Prabhav will contest the municipal elections, he said, “The BJP has decided to welcome all young leaders into the party. However, it is believed that Prabhav will definitely contest the Margao Municipal Council elections and has a choice of choosing his constituency from two.”
Former MLA Damu Naik said BJP is welcoming all, irrespective of their caste or creed into the party and added that they arewinning elections all over India. “In Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and even Goa at the ZP elections, BJP has emerged victorious as today the situation is that there is no other choice other for the common man,” he said.
