PANJIM: Claiming that the BJP’s tactics of intimidation and threats to the opposition is nothing but manifestation of frustration fearing defeat, Congress on Tuesday predicted that the saffron party’s tally in the 2017 Assembly elections would not cross five seats.
“Today there is so much of turmoil, frustration, desperation in this BJP government, which came up with many promises and has only betrayed the people’s faith and trust for the last five years,” Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Luizinho Faleiro said.
“The silent revolt is coming like a volcanic eruption and the more BJP tries to blackmail, intimidate or threaten the opposition, I can assure you that BJP’s tally in the next Assembly election will not cross five. It is going to be so bad for the BJP,” Faleiro said adding, “Congress will win with a majority”.
Faleiro was reacting to Monday night’s incident in Poriem constituency wherein 15 people were arrested for pelting stones during the election rally addressed by former Health Minister and Valpoi MLA Vishwajit Rane. Poriem is represented by Vishwajit’s father and former chief minister Pratapsing Rane.
Congress has decided to write to the Election Commission of India (ECI) requesting that Poriem and Valpoi constituencies be declared as sensitive.
“The government is using tactics of intimidation and threat. Yesterday (Monday) during the meeting, the violence and threats in a peaceful Congress party meeting is again a manifestation of frustration of the BJP. Defeat is starring at their (BJP’s) face,” Faleiro said in the presence of Rane.
Condemning the incident and demanding strict action against the people involved in violence, Faleiro said the Rane family is an old Congress family and Sattari has been the bastion of Congress party for many years. “I would like to say this cheap tactics of violence and intimidation will not work. It will neither work in Sattari nor in any part of Goa,” he added.
Addressing the media, Rane said the BJP’s candidate was behind the attack and demanded that the culprits be booked for threats and for likely attack on the Leader of the Opposition, who was supposed to address the meeting. “The incident was instigated by so-called BJP candidate, who is well aware of his defeat and hence trying to polarize the situation,” he said. “BJP is frustrated as it has failed to live up to the expectations of the people. For the last five years, they played with the emotions of the people,” he said.
