PANJIM: Confident of victory with a thumping majority, the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to fight the 2022 elections on its own.
Against the backdrop of several aspirants, including former MLAs, expressing willingness to contest the upcoming elections on a BJP ticket, the ruling party has issued an ultimatum to its members to restrain from making such statements.
The BJP State Executive Committee met on Tuesday wherein the cadres were asked to gear up for the 2022 polls, which are likely to take place in February, next year. The meeting, attended by the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, unanimously condemned the machinations and false propaganda against the BJP government and expressed its full confidence in the leadership and the performance of the government.
Addressing media persons post the meeting, BJP State president Sadanand Shet Tanavade said for now the party has decided to go alone for the polls. “There was no discussion or decision on alliance during the Executive Committee meeting. As of now we have decided to fight the elections alone, on our own capability,” he said.
“But in the election process anything can happen. But we have asked our workers to gear up and start their work,” he added.
Tanavade said district committee meetings are scheduled on July 2-3, in North and South Goa, respectively, in the presence of BJP Goa desk in-charge C T Ravi.
He said the State Executive Committee will meet twice before the polls to chalk out the strategy. “Elections will take place as per schedule…before February 2022 or just beginning of it,” he said.
Responding to a question on several leaders expressing their desire to contest the polls, Tanavade said it is a very good sign that there are many aspiring for the BJP ticket but the party has a procedure to follow and the decisions are taken by the central leadership.
“It was unfortunate to see that press/media became the medium for some aspirants to seek party ticket or tell party how it should function. Today, we have asked all the members to restrain themselves from making any such statement. It is the Parliamentary body of BJP that decides on the candidates, while we are just the recommending body,” he said.
Recently, former CM Laxmikant Parsekar and ex-MLA Sidharth Kuncolienker had expressed their desire to contest the 2022 polls.
Earlier during the meeting, the State Executive Committee congratulated the Chief Minister for a stellar performance in the municipal polls by winning 10 councils. “The consecutive victories in Zilla Panchayat as well as municipal polls, reflects the faith reposed by common man in the inclusive governance of the BJP,” states the political resolution of the party.
The party also congratulated CM for successfully handling the COVID situation in the State.
Tanavade, however, refused to comment on the soaring fuel prices, stating that it is not a State subject. He also declined to intervene or comment on the State Legislative Assembly proceedings as he is not a member of the Legislative Assembly.
