Says will be forced to take harsh steps if denied ticket
VASCO
After facing the heat from Ports Minister Michael Lobo, the BJP was confronted with yet another unhappy legislator when Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida on Saturday threatened “harsh steps” if denied the party ticket for the upcoming elections.
Speaking to reporters at a news conference, Almeida insisted that the BJP supports minority candidates to win the assembly elections in the State.
“It was former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar who in 2012 supported the minority candidates and gave them tickets and as a result, the BJP got 21-plus seats,” said Almeida.
In 2017 again, Parrikar supported the minority community and we still won a good number of seats and went on to form the government. Later, 10 MLAs joined the BJP and eight of them are minority MLAs.”
“As of now, we have 35 per cent minority MLAs in the government. My request is that the party must again give 35 percent seats to the minority so that they can come on board with the BJP,” Almeida added.
“Utpal Parrikar has already said he may have to take a harsh decision and I am also of the same opinion and may be forced to take a harsh decision if things go against me. Many people are already in touch with me. This was a Congress seat earlier, but we have made this a BJP constituency for 10 years and the party must also think about it,” said Almeida.
“As far as development works are concerned, Vasco is getting stepmotherly treatment but now Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has received legal opinion on the bus stand project and a board decision has been taken by GSIDC to tender the works in 10 days,” said Almeida.
Almeida added that an independent councillor had extended support to him and hence he had become even more stronger in the council.
“This is a clear message to people that the council is with me and we are a much stronger force. As of today, many councillors are joining me and besides many people who had contested against our candidates in the civic polls have also joined me from across many wards in Vasco and this is my strength,” said Almeida.
