Team Goemkarponn
FATORDA: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said BJP state president Damu Naik should contest the Fatorda Assembly seat if he wants to enter the electoral fray in 2027, while making it clear that the final decision on the party’s candidate will be taken by the BJP leadership.
Sawant made the statement while visiting Naik’s residence for Ganesh celebrations on Thursday. Asked whether Naik should contest from Fatorda, the Chief Minister said there was no reason for him not to do so if he was willing.
However, when asked whether the BJP state president should be the party’s candidate from the constituency, Sawant said the matter would be decided by Naik and the central leadership.
The Fatorda seat has already emerged as a point of political focus ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, with discussions within parties over possible candidates and alliances.
Responding to questions on the proposed AAP-GFP alliance and its contention that it could bring the BJP government’s functioning under scrutiny, Sawant said his government had nothing to hide.
He said the government had maintained transparency and pointed to infrastructure and other development projects undertaken during the BJP-led “double-engine” government.
Sawant said a statewide campaign would be conducted from September 17 to October 18 to inform people about the work carried out by the Goa and Central governments. The campaign would cover areas including education, healthcare and various welfare schemes, he said.
On the Congress ‘Rakhonn’ Yatra, Sawant said the government’s outreach was being conducted as part of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyaan linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday celebrations.
He said the campaign would focus on making people aware of government schemes and providing eligible persons with disabilities with necessary equipment.
The Chief Minister also referred to the spine rehabilitation centre established in Goa, saying the initiative was among the healthcare developments undertaken during the Modi government’s tenure.
