Addressing the media on Friday, State NCP Vice President Trajano D’Mello criticized Parrikar, who though he is the Union Defence Minister, flew to Goa from Delhi to campaign.
“It is a shame for the entire country when the defence minister campaigns in municipal wards which are smaller than panchayat wards of the other States,” D’Mello said.
He said that never in past has the defence minister of India participated in municipal poll campaigns even though elections were fought on party lines.
“It is now confirmed that BJP is scared of losing its grip at the grassroots level and that is why such a cheap campaign has been commissioned by the party that is ruling in the State,” D’Mello alleged.
NCP also challenged the BJP to form councils without the support of candidates elected from other panels. D’Mello said, “If getting clean and honest candidates elected is the motive for such an extensive campaign in the municipal polls by BJP leaders in Goa, then let BJP promise that they will not take support of other candidates to take control of councils.”
He further said that BJP failed in the ZP polls by holding elections on party lines which is why they decided not to hold municipal elections on party lines.
