PANJIM: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Goa unit has unanimously proposed its State president Sadanand Shet Tanavade’s candidature for the lone Rajya Sabha seat, the election for which will be held on July 24. The official announcement would be made once the party High Command gives clearance.
Tanavade, who served as member of Goa legislative assembly from 2002-07, is heading the party’s Goa unit since 2020. The six-year long term of incumbent MP Vinay Tendulkar ends on July 31.
The BJP core committee held its meeting on Saturday to finalise the candidature for Rajya Sabha seat and also to chalk out strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Sources confirmed that Tanavade’s name was unanimously approved by the Core committee.
Speaking to media persons post meeting, the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant refused to disclose the name and said, “There are few names, once party high command approves, we will declare them shortly”.
Tanavade, too, refused to disclose the details but said, “I am party karyakarta and whatever decision the party takes, will abide by it.”
The last date for filing the nomination for RS polls is July 13. The election will take place on July 24 and counting on the very same day.
It will be a smooth sailing for the BJP candidate as the party has 33 MLAs in the 40-member State Legislative Assembly, while Congress has got three, AAP two and one each from GFP and RGP.
Meanwhile, the BJP core committee has directed its leaders to focus on increasing the party’s vote share in both the constituencies- North and South for the upcoming LS polls. While BJP is ruling the north Goa seat, Congress has its hold over South.
