Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) on Monday accused BJP of trying to gain sympathy of Panjim voters over demise of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, as a part of their election campaign strategy.
Addressing media persons, GSM leader Hridaynath Shirodkar alleged that BJP’s election campaign strategy is to seek sympathy votes in the name of Parrikar. “BJP has no issues to reach out to the voters. Their only agenda is sympathy votes,” he said.
“Also, BJP leaders are campaigning that GSM is here to split or divide votes,” Shirodkar said adding ‘BJP wants to win election using GSM and Parrikar’.
GSM has fielded its mentor and former colleague of Parrikar, Subhash Velingkar. BJP has Sidharth Kuncalienker in the fray while Congress has fielded Atanasio Monserrate. GSM is expecting 11,000 votes count for its candidate with victory margin of 2500-3000 votes.
GSM Panjim election campaign in-charge Mahesh Mhambre said the real fight on May 19 is going to be between GSM and Congress. “Congress and BJP have a setting. The voters have realised that now,” he said.
GSM leader alleged that under Parrikar, who was claimed to be a visionary leader, had taken Panjim backward during his 25 years as MLA. “During our campaign, we realised that Panjim is far backward. The basic infrastructure, water and electricity continue to be major issues in this constituency, which remained completely neglected,” Mhambre alleged.
