Ulhas Tuenkar’s Navelim victory fuels demand for ministerial berth

MARGAO: The BJP camp in Salcete is upbeat. By winning the Navelim seat, the party has achieved, albeit in part, what Manohar Parrikar’s famed Mission Salcete was aimed at — making inroads in the Catholic dominated Salcete taluka.
BJP had contested in all 8 constituencies of Salcete this time, unlike in the previous two elections where it had supported independents or fringe outfits in an attempt to gain a foothold in what was previously the Congress citadel.
Ulhas Tuenkar turned out to be the only BJP candidate to win in Salcete.
“What makes the Navelim victory sweeter for BJP,” a source in the BJP camp said, “is the fact that Ulhas is from among the BJP cadre, a true homebred karyakarta.”

Tuenkar’s victory has now fuelled demands for a ministerial berth for the loyal grassroots worker.
Tuemkar turned out to be a dark horse in Navelim constituency defeating his nearest rival TMC’s Valanka Alemao by 430 votes.

BJP’s final tally in Navelim was determined largely on the strength of Tuenkar’s personal appeal in addition to BJP party’s traditional votes, political sources said.