PANJIM: The Congress party on Monday stated that the Chief Minister and Health Minister positions held by the BJP candidates created huge impact on the voters resulting into party’s defeat in the by-election in both Assembly constituencies.
In a post-election media briefing, Congress president Shantaram Naik also attributed party’s defeat to the poor organisational set up in Panjim and Valpoi constituencies.
“We accept in all humility the result given by the electorate,” Naik said.
“But, the election results are moral defeat for BJP as their candidates were indulged into corrupt practices as official positions were misused by the two candidates,” Naik alleged.
The former MP said that both the BJP candidates were holding crucial positions – one was Chief Minister (Manohar Parrikar) and the other was Health Minister (Vishwajit Rane), which were misused to lure the voters by way of making assurances and promises like that of jobs. “This created impact on the voters. People get attracted and that was our misfortune,” he said.
“Even those who wanted to vote for Congress, perhaps in their mind, did not vote. A promise made by Chief Minister or a Minister has a great impact,” he added.
Naik alleged that the BJP candidates were also involved in “electoral terrorism” to scare the voters.
“BJP was panicky and that was the reason it got into all corrupt practices and also got its entire ministry and coalition partners in the field,” Congress leader further charged.
Pointing to the party’s poor organisational setup in both the constituencies, Naik said, “If organisational base is not strong, victory or defeat does not matter”.
“But we have built the organisation in both the constituencies. I have no hesitation in saying that our infrastructure in both the constituencies was not upto the mark,” he said, committing that party will work to build its organization in both places.
