Will make inroads in rest of Salcete, too, says Tanavade

Margao: Having won the Navelim seat, its first ever victory in Salcete, BJP is now determined to make inroads in the rest of the Catholic-dominated constituencies.

Speaking at a function held at the party’s South Goa office to felicitate its Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar on his victory, BJP state president Sadanand Shet Tanavade said that while BJP has registered victory in four of Salcete’s eight constituencies in one or the other poll — Margao, Fatorda, Cuncolim and now Navelim — attempts will be made to script success in the remainder of the constituencies as well.

“BJP had won in 29 of the 40 constituencies in one or the other polls in the past. This time we were able to score victory in five more constituencies for the first time — Ponda, Taleigao, Porvorim, Poriem and Navelim — thereby taking this tally to 34. We are yet to win in six constituencies — Quepem, Santa Cruz, Velim, Nuvem, Benaulim and Curtorim — and I am confident we will win there

too

soon,” Tanavade said.

BJP general secretary Narendra Sawaikar said it was on the strength of the karyakartas that the party was able to win the Navelim seat, and exuded confidence that party workers would replicate the victory in other Salcete seats as well. He recalled how in 1999, when BJP won the South Goa Loksabha seat, party workers worked hard in coastal Salcete notwithstanding the poor response that the campaign meetings evoked during that time. “That’s the strength of a BJP karyakarta.”

Tanavade said that the next goal for the party was the Loksabha elections and exuded confidence of BJP’s victory in South Goa as well.

Navelim MLA Tuenkar credited the party workers for his victory .