BJP Siolim candidate Dayanand Mandrekar
Gomantak Times
As the polling day for the 2022 Goa assembly election inches closer, the battlefield Goa is all set to witness a thrilling multi-party contest between the Congress, the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Trianamool Congress (TMC), Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Goa Forward Party, among other, on 14 February.
In a rapid-fire interview, Gomantak Times speaks to BJP candidate from Siolim, Dayanand Mandrekar.
You have represented as Siolim MLA four times and will also be contesting this year. What do you fight in Siolim as twelve candidates, the highest in Goa, are contesting from Siolim this time?
There will always be rivals on the battlefield, but time will tell who will emerge victorious. Right now I see only my victory, not the competition in front of me. I believe that the victory of my party in the forthcoming Assembly elections is certain.
Siolim constituency lacks far behind other constituencies in terms of development and this constituency is being given the status of backwardness. What would you say about this?
The bridge connecting Siolim-Chopdem villages above the Chapora river, which is an important link, was build with the help of late Manohar Parrikar. Today, those who accuse Siolim of backwardness travel on the same bridge and reach Siolim, so it is better that you ask them this question. Twenty years ago, those who crossed the river by ferry for half an hour, today when they cross the river comfortably from the bridge in few minutes, is it not progress? Those who have good eyesight needs to have a clear vision of how Siolim's progress.
Delilah Lobo, the wife of former minister Michael Lobo, who joined the Congress from the BJP, and Vinod Paliencar, a former MLA, who do think is your main opponent?
Politicians who have defected from BJP to Congress are working for their own selfish needs, while the people will show Vinod Paliencar his place in the coming elections. He has already been rejected by his own party Goa Forward. I was a BJP member from the beginning and I still testify that I will remain a BJP member till the end.
Will the new parties that have entered Goa to test their strength in politics have any effect on the BJP?
Absolutely not, its 100% sure. They will be walking the same way they came here.
How much impact will the local MGP alliance with Trinamool have on the state?
To tell you the truth, by forming an alliance with Trinamool, MGP has committed his political suicide. If MGP would have contested on its own, then the local people would have accepted him, but not now.
If you are in the minority after the election, which parties will you form an alliance with to form the government?
This decision will be taken by the party leaders. But in my opinion, the BJP will not need anyone to form a government, but if the time comes, many people, including independents, will come to the BJP on their own.
But do you think BJP once again will need the help of others to form the government in the state in 2022?
There's no point in talking about this, it's politics. The government is set up to serve the people because in the end we are all servants of Indian democracy, of course, the sovereign republic is important.