PANAJI
It was a litany of grievances as losing candidates from the BJP attributed various factors for their disappointing performance and defeat in the recent assembly elections.
After conducting a review meeting with the party’s losing candidates to identify the factors leading to their defeat, State Party leader Sadanand Shet Tanavade said action would be taken against those party functionaries who had worked against party candidates in their constituencies.
The meeting was addressed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and among the losing BJP candidates present included Rajesh Patnekar, Dayanand Mandrekar, Dayanand Sopte, Francis Silveira, Clafacio Dias, Babu Ajgaonkar and Glenn Ticlo.
Various factors were identified by losing candidates which had led to their defeat in the polls.
“Working against the party candidate while being a BJP functionary is not proper and those involved in such actions should resign from their positions or else, disciplinary action is needed,” said Tanavade.
“The issue will be discussed in the disciplinary committee and the committee will take necessary action in the matter.”
Speaking to media persons, former speaker Rajesh Patnekar said he submitted a report of those who had worked against him in Bicholim constituency.
"BJP leader and Mumbai MLA Rahul Narwekar also submitted a report in this regard,” he added.
Siolim BJP candidate Dayanand Mandrekar said votes polled by the Revolutionary Goans Party candidate in his constituency was unexpected and may have been the reason for his defeat.
“We were concentrating on the big fish and never thought that the RGP candidate, who did not canvas enough and had no presence in the booths, could garner 3,188 votes,” said Mandrekar.
“Besides, I had anticipated a split in anti-BJP votes but this did not happen and most of anti-BJP votes went to the Congress candidate.”
Known for his humour, Mandrekar said newly elected Calangute MLA Michael Lobo managed to perform magic in barely three months to ensure a win for his wife, Delilah, in Siolim constituency.
Francis Silveira, who narrowly lost to RGP's Viraj Borkar in St Andre, blamed NRIs for influencing his voters which had led to his defeat.
“‘Londonkars’ supported RGP in a big way and even influenced their families and relatives to vote for RGP if they wanted money to be transferred into their accounts. St Andre has a substantial number of residents living in London. Even those who were giving government jobs also voted for other parties,” he said.
Clafacio Dias, who lost in Cuncolim, said his defection from Congress to the BJP had not affected the poll result.
“The Church’s stand against the BJP had an effect in my constituency,” said Dias.
Babu Ajgaonkar, who lost in Margao, said he had sacrificed his Pernem constituency for the party and contested in Margao constituency, where he hardly got any time to work.
Tony Fernandes, the losing candidate in St Cruz constituency, said though his vote-share in other areas was intact, he was not able to secure sufficient votes from Indira Nagar in Chimbel.
In a tweet, Sawant said he had a fruitful interaction with hardworking BJP candidates who fell short with small margins in their win.
“Many of them have worked as MLAs in the past and I am sure they will continue to put in their best efforts to serve the people of Goa at grass root levels,” stated Sawant.
Earlier on Thursday, Tanavade had convened a meeting with winning candidates and some of them like the Monserrate couple came out strongly against some BJP workers, accusing them of working against the BJP candidate in the constituency.
