Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: Canacona MLA and Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Ramesh Tawadkar has sounded the poll bugle for the 2027 Goa Assembly elections, declaring that he is confident of securing more than 70 per cent of the votes in the next election.
Tawadkar was addressing a large gathering of BJP workers at the ‘Seva Sankalp Padyatra’ organised in Canacona on Saturday to mark 25 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s service to the nation.
Taking a direct swipe at his political detractors, Tawadkar challenged his opponents to contest against him rather than question his electoral support.
“Instead, dare to contest against me and see your place,” Tawadkar said, responding to criticism that he was elected with only around 33 per cent of the votes. He said the support he has built in Canacona would enable him to secure more than 70 per cent of the polled votes in the next election.
The remarks came after Canacona BJP block president and Kushavati district president Prabhakar Gaonkar indicated that BJP state president Damu Naik had already hinted at allotting the Canacona Assembly ticket to Tawadkar and had asked party workers to begin campaigning for him.
Tawadkar also hit out at critics who have questioned the pace of development in Canacona, claiming that major development in the constituency began after Narendra Modi came to power at the Centre in 2014.
He announced that no potholes would remain in Canacona from November and claimed that a beautification project worth around Rs 20 crore and a modern fish market would also be taken up soon.
“Only BJP can and will take care of everyone, including the last person,” Tawadkar said, while urging people not to worry about the constituency’s development.
Taking a dig at the Goa Forward Party’s ‘Zuim Ghanv Thuim Hanv’ campaign, Tawadkar said people living in Margao should not dictate terms to Canacona voters.
“I welcome anyone or everyone to contest elections against me in Canacona, but this time I am taking over 70 per cent of the polled votes and will win,” he said.
The ‘Seva Sankalp Padyatra’, attended by BJP state president Damu Naik and party vice-president Chandrakant ‘Babu’ Kavlekar, began at Shri Gaitonde Grounds near the Deputy Collectorate and concluded at the KTC complex in Chaudi before BJP leaders garlanded the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
More than 5,000 BJP workers participated in the rally, wearing saffron scarves, waving party flags and raising BJP and patriotic slogans.
Kavlekar said Canacona would be the first among the 30 Assembly constituencies that the BJP would win in the 2027 elections.
ZP member from Poinguinim Ajay ‘Ajit’ Lolienkar credited Tawadkar with several development initiatives in Canacona and urged people to rally behind him.
Gaonkar said Tawadkar had introduced innovative initiatives such as Shram-Dham and Lukosthav, besides implementing various schemes through the Tribal Welfare Department.
The event was also addressed by Poinguinim Sarpanch Savita Tawadkar and Canacona Ravindra Bhavan Vice-Chairman Ramakant Naik Gaonkar. The programme concluded with the rendition of Vande Mataram.
