Team Goemkarponn
SANCOALE: Sancoale Independent Zilla Panchayat candidate Achut Naik on Tuesday afternoon launched a sharp attack on the BJP, alleging that the party no longer values loyalty and grassroots workers, but instead promotes “traitors” who have little connect with party karyakartas or the people.
Speaking to reporters while campaigning in the Matve area of Dabolim along with Chicalim panch member Neelam Naik and a large number of supporters, Naik asserted that his exit from the BJP had taken place much earlier and dismissed the party’s move to issue a letter declaring him expelled as a “political stunt” with no relevance.
“BJP is no longer the same party. Today, there is no scope for loyal supporters and karyakartas. The party only needs traitors. The candidate chosen by the BJP is someone who joined the party just a year ago and it was because of him that the BJP lost the 2022 Assembly elections,” Naik alleged.
Claiming that the BJP’s official candidate lacked grassroots backing, Naik said, “The BJP candidate does not even enjoy the support of party karyakartas. In fact, members of his own family are campaigning for an opposition candidate. Let the BJP do its own research. I challenge the party to prove my allegations wrong. If a candidate’s own family is not standing with him, how can the people be expected to do so?”
Naik clarified that there was no question of the BJP expelling him, as he had already resigned from the party long ago. “I had resigned much before all this. There is absolutely no weightage to this so-called expulsion letter,” he said.
Referring to former ZP chairperson Anita Thorat, Naik said her denial of a ticket had deeply hurt party workers. “Anita Thorat was a sitting ZP member and had even served as the chairperson of South Goa Zilla Panchayat. She has done a lot of development work. Despite this, the BJP denied her the ticket. If this can happen to her, it can happen to any loyal karyakarta,” he remarked.
Naik said the developments should serve as a wake-up call for grassroots workers who dedicate years of their lives to the party without expecting anything in return. “This is a lesson for all BJP karyakartas who work selflessly, without expectations. Loyalty and hard work are no longer rewarded. Anyone who believes that sincere service will be recognised should now open their eyes,” he said.
Naik said he had never intended to contest the ZP elections and entered the fray only after Thorat was denied the ticket. “I would never have contested if the BJP had given the ticket to Anita Thorat. It was only when I realised that the party was sidelining her that I decided to jump in. Instead of rewarding loyalty, the BJP chose to field a traitor and ignored both Anita Thorat and a committed karyakarta like me,” he said.
Stating that the decision had caused resentment at the grassroots, Naik added, “Her karyakartas are hurt and so are my supporters. This will surely dent the BJP’s prospects in this ZP election. I urge Anita Thorat’s supporters and karyakartas to join hands with me so that we can work unitedly for the people and prove the BJP wrong.”
Terming the expulsion letter a conspiracy to disrupt his campaign, Naik said, “There is no scope to expel me as I had resigned long back. I chose to step away because I did not want to work under pressure or force. My aim has always been people-centric development without political interference.”
He claimed that the move had instead strengthened his campaign. “My campaigning is going on in full swing. This attempt to demotivate my supporters has backfired. Many supporters are now campaigning on their own, even without informing me. Support is pouring in from several quarters. Some local leaders cannot openly support me, but they are working for me quietly. Even supporters from other parties have started backing me from within,” Naik said.
Reflecting on his long association with the BJP, Naik said he felt betrayed. “I am a karyakarta of 34 years and this is the reward I got for standing with the party through thick and thin. I was a child when I used to paste BJP posters and banners, at a time when the party struggled to find workers,” he said.
Despite the bitter end to his journey with the BJP, Naik said he remained determined. “I never wanted it to end this way. Nevertheless, I will continue to campaign with full strength and, if elected, I will carry out tremendous development work. I will prove to the people that a loyal karyakarta can win an election even without a godfather,” he asserted.
