Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar kicked off his campaign for the by-elections suggesting that Congress bow out of the electoral battle following the embarrassment it is facing in finding a candidate and because he is Chief Minister. Parrikar will file his nomination for the by-poll on August 2.
Addressing the Panjim BJP mandal workers, Parrikar said, “Congress is already facing major embarrassment, wherein they are not able to find a suitable candidate against me. They should have taken a stand and have just said that he (Parrikar) is a Chief Minister who is contesting and we (Congress) should leave the seat and let him get elected unopposed.”
“Elections will take place but voting may not take place,” the Chief Minister said, adding, “Congress will definitely field a candidate and then will have no face to show post the result.”
Urging his karyakartas not to be relaxed and to work in full strength, Parrikar said that the support system that will stand behind him during the election will encourage and boost him to perform as Chief Minister. “The minimum votes I should get are 12,000. For that, all need to work,” he said.
Kuncolienkar said the people of Panjim have got an opportunity to get a Chief Minister elected as their MLA and hence the margin of victory should not be less than 8000 votes. “In other circumstances, a person first gets elected as MLA and then considered as a probable Chief Ministerial candidate. But in the case of Panjim, we have got an opportunity to elect Chief Minister as our MLA,” he stated.
He said it is fortunate for the party, that Congress is not able to find a single suitable candidate against Parrikar. “Congress should remember that the people of Panjim have rejected them seven times and will continue to do so,” he said.
Taking a pot shot at Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) for their indirect support to Congress for the by-elections, BJP General Secretary Sadanand Tanawade dared the GSM leaders to contest.
