Leading the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Goa assembly elections to an unprecedented third consecutive term, chief minister Pramod Sawant has emerged as a top contender in the race this time. In an interview with Gerard De Souza, Sawant explains that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, combined with his social outreach, which helped the party overcome anti-incumbency and secure a narrow victory. Edited excerpts:
We took our job, to win the seats, seriously.The party had been campaigning for the last six months but the most important factor was PM Modi’s leadership, which helped us cross the line.
Under the PM’s leadership, all the central government schemes were implemented in Goa. Modi’s vision, including the flagship programmes of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, Clean India, Fit India, all the missions, were implemented properly in Goa. From Covid-19 to floods to cyclone Tauktae, we faced several difficulties and at the same time, we got the opportunity to serve the people of Goa and managed to achieve developmental works.
We implemented the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission in Goa in the form of Swayampurna (self-reliant) Goa and enacted it at the village level. Under the leadership of the PM, senior leaders like JP Nadda, Amit Shah, our prabharis, the ministers and party leaders campaigned in a really good way. It was how we reached out to the people that we had increased the 13 seats (in 2017) to 20 (in 2022).
Everyone works against the chief minister and wants them to be defeated. Pushkar Singh Dhami lost (from Khatima)... he is a good friend and deserved another term, but an atmosphere was created against him. They (rivals) also tried but nonetheless god and the people were with me, hence I got the chance to serve the Sanquelim constituency for the third time. Now, I will be able to take the development forward.
{{/usCountry}}Everyone works against the chief minister and wants them to be defeated. Pushkar Singh Dhami lost (from Khatima)... he is a good friend and deserved another term, but an atmosphere was created against him. They (rivals) also tried but nonetheless god and the people were with me, hence I got the chance to serve the Sanquelim constituency for the third time. Now, I will be able to take the development forward.
{{/usCountry}}Yes. But we also lost several seats by narrow margins. If not for the narrow margins, we would have got an even bigger majority and would have been able to form a government on our own. We improved our tally (from 13 in 2017 to 20 in 2022). We also made new inroads winning Ponda and Navelim seats for the first time. This is a reward for the work done by the party’s workers and leaders and, these constituencies showed faith in PM Modi and the BJP’s leadership. I wish to thank all the voters. Be it infrastructure development or any other development, the central leadership will continue to help the Goa government and Goa will go forward.
We will share our priorities after we form the government.
The BJP is a central party, so all the decisions are taken by the central leadership. This decision will also be taken by them.
We are discussing it but the high command and the central parliamentary board are thinking about it even more. What they decide is important. Since, they are thinking in terms of having a stable government for the next five years, they will take a decision accordingly.