Candidates to be shortlisted by ?February 25
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM:The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will shortlist its candidates for the Lok Sabha 2014 polls by February 25, after consulting all its alliance partners in the government, chief minister Manohar Parrikar said on Friday.
Addressing media persons, Parrikar said that the final decision on candidates would be taken by BJP parliamentary board. “ The BJP election committee will shortlist its candidates by February 25. The same would be forwarded to the parliamentary board for a final decision,” he informed.
BJP has recently constituted a 10 member state election committee under party president Vinay Tendulkar with Parrikar and five other ministers as members. While there is no formal announcement of shortlisted candidates, sitting MP Sripad Naik for north and Narendra Sawaikar for south Goa are the party probables.
The chief minister said that the party would meet its alliance partners by next week to decide on the Lok Sabha candidates. “Whoever has extended their support to government would be consulted, including independent legislator”, he said.
The BJP government is in alliance with MGP (three MLA), while Francisco Pacheco led Goa ?Vikas Party (two MLA) and four independent legislator have extended their support from outside.
“Discussions will also take place with the party workers”, Parrikar added. The Congress members are already in Delhi with the list of their candidates for the polls. The list includes the name of BJP legislator Vishnu Surya Wagh for north Goa.
Parrikar was speaking while announcing launch of ‘’Ek Vote Kamal Pe Vote’ campaign, which takes off from February 15. Parrikar has expressed confidence of clinching majority in the Lok Sabha polls. He said BJP will gain over 272 seats including two from Goa. “Decisive government with majority, is our aim for these polls”, he said in the presence of the party president.
All BJP legislators including chief minister and other ministers would make door to door visits and convey to people about BJP government’s success and the country’s need for a prime minister like Narendra Modi.
Parrikar said that people are free to donate any amount, which would be used for election expenditure.
The state BJP aims to reach out to around 2.50 lakh households in Goa.
