Porvorim: The legislators from the ruling dispension on Wednesday said that despite BJP being tagged as communal, former Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza stood with the party for nearly 20 years and emerged as party’s minority face.
While moving the condolence motion on D’Souza, who died on February 14, BJP MLA Rajesh Patnekar said that Francis emerged as the minority face of BJP and worked overnight to attract the community towards the party.
“Despite representing BJP, Francis victory margin in Mapusa was over 9000-10,000. He never let the party down. He was the true face of minority for the party,” Patnekar said.
Endorsing it, BJP Minister Mauvin Godinho concurred that Francis had become the minority face of BJP at a time when the party was being tagged as communal. “People called BJP as communal party but despite that, Francis dared to stick to his loyalty towards the saffron party,” he said.
Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo said that Francis joined hands with Parrikar almost 20-22 years back and became the minority face of BJP.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai remembered Francis as a MLA whose winning margin use to be more than the votes pulled by any other winning candidates. “He was a leader of masses. And definitely a minority face in the State politics,” he said.
To this, Minister Rohan Khaunte said that Francis won 2017 election with 10,000 odd margins even without campaigning. “That time, his eye was operated and his wife and son campaigned for him,” he said.
