Goa Forward reconstitutes Mayem block

Panaji: On a day BJP inducted several former

Goa Forward Party

(GFP) office-bearers from the Mayem block, the regional party began the process to reconstitute the body by appointing former Shirgao sarpanch Sadanand Gaonkar as president.

GFP vice-president Durgadas Kamat said that BJP used the lure of government jobs to convince the workers to switch parties. GFP had already dissolved the Mayem block four months earlier.

“The workers who went to BJP have gone there for self-development. We checked with our candidate for Mayem, Santosh Sawant, who said that these workers told him that BJP promised them jobs,” said Kamat, adding that the party has audio recordings of the conversation.

Kamat said that the exit of the workers would not impact GFP’s prospects in the elections. “It is good that they have gone as we don’t want such people. At least during elections, we will have honest people,” said Kamat, addressing a press conference.

When asked about GFP’s preparations for the upcoming municipal elections, Kamat said that the party would contest the civic polls in select municipalities. “Let the elections be declared, and then we will take a call.”

Speaking to reporters, GFP’s face for Pernem constituency, Jitendra Gaonkar, said that chief minister Pramod Sawant’s recent comments at a function in Sindhudurg suggests that he plans to promote Sindhudurg more than Pernem.

“The chief minister has created a picture or a scenario where it looks like the people of Pernem will be cheated and robbed of their land, exploited and thrown into jail just so that the people of Sindhudurg can benefit,” said Gaonkar.

Gaonkar, who was recently arrested by Goa police for leading an agitation against land acquisition, said Pernem residents had agreed to part with their land for the new airport in the hope that the project would develop the northern-most taluka of the state.


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