Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: Goa BJP president Damu Naik on Sunday launched the poll campaign of Khola ZP candidate Tejal Pagi at Saleri-Khola, using the occasion to strongly attack the Congress, urging voters “not to trust Congress crooks”. Naik performed a traditional coconut-breaking ritual at a local Devasthan before addressing party workers.
Speaking to supporters, Naik cautioned locals not to take the state government’s ‘Mhaje Ghar’ scheme lightly and encouraged every household to fill the necessary forms to legalise their homes. He claimed that Congress leaders were misleading the public about the scheme. “Do not believe the crooked Congress leaders who will tell you that the ‘Mhaje Ghar’ scheme is a lie,” he said, asserting that the initiative launched by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant’s government aimed at providing legal security to long-standing homes.
Naik added that the BJP had finalised candidates in 40 of the 50 Zilla Panchayat constituencies, while leaving three seats to the MGP and extending support to Independents in seven places.
He also expressed confidence in Tejal Pagi’s prospects. “The moment her name was announced, I began receiving calls saying she is the right choice. Do not be overconfident, but remember we aim not just to win Khola, but to win with a bigger margin than the 3,200 votes secured last time by outgoing ZP member Shanu Velip,” he said.
Naik added that the BJP’s efforts aimed to “bring justice”, saying, “Only after these Rakshas are destroyed will Ram Rajya happen.”
Former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP vice-president Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar described Pagi as a down-to-earth candidate and appealed to voters to elect her.
The event saw the presence of BJP general secretary Sarvanand Bhagat, South Goa district president Prabhakar Gaonkar, ZP member Shanu Velip, Khola sarpanch Pradnya Kamat, CMC chairperson Laxuman Pagui, Quepem mandal president Krupesh Velip and other local leaders, along with party workers from Betul-Naqueri, Agonda, Shristhal and Khola.
