PANJIM: With opposition deciding not to field any candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, scheduled on July 24, BJP State president Sadanand Shet Tanavade is all set to be the next Member of Parliament from Goa in the Upper House.
Tanavade on Tuesday filed his nomination papers for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Goa, in the presence of the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and other party MLAs.
Tanavade thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders and karyakartas for giving him the opportunity.
The term of incumbent Rajya Sabha MP from Goa, Vinay Tendulkar, ends on July 28.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said Tanavade will win the Rajya Sabha seat from Goa with the support of 33 MLAs.
“All together the strength is 33…which include legislators of BJP plus MGP plus the Independent candidates. I am confident that Tanavade will win the RS Goa seat, and I congratulate him in advance,” said Sawant.
Sawant said they will reach out to the Opposition to seek support for Tanavade’s candidature in the election.
The BJP and its allies including two from MGP and three independents- account for 33 MLAs in the 40-Member Goa Assembly. The Congress has three MLAs, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has two MLAs, while the Goa Forward Party and the Revolutionary Goans Party have one legislator each.
Meanwhile, the seven opposition MLAs on Tuesday unanimously decided not to field a candidate for the polls as part of “political strategy” in the interest of Goa.
The opposition held a meeting in this regard and issued a joint media statement thereafter.
