Former ports minister Michael Lobo in his first interaction after his party received a drubbing from the BJP said people of Goa voted against BJP but the votes got split. Speaking exclusively to Gomantak Times, Lobo said he will remain in Congress and fulfil whatever responsibilities will be given by the Congress party.
Congratulations on winning the Calangute assembly seat for the third time in a row. You have made rare a hat-trick in Calangute.
Thank you. This victory and hat trick belongs not only to me but to every voter in the Calangute constituency. I am thankful to every voter for this.
You gave the slogan of "Together for Bardez" and worked for the victory of Congress in Bardez taluka. How do you assess performance of Congress in the elections?
We (Together for Bardez) have succeeded in winning four out of the seven constituencies in Bardez. In addition, the Congress flag has been hoisted in the Cumbharjua and Santacruz constituencies in Tiswadi. We have lost the Mapusa constituency due to a lack of proper planning. The split in the anti-BJP votes between Congress and the Trinamool and the Revolutionary Goans was a big blow. Anyway, the Congress has decided to sit on the opposition bench in the Assembly,
Do you regret quitting BJP before the election now?
No, not at all. On the contrary, the overall turnout in this year's Assembly elections shows that the people of the state voted against the BJP with anger. Unfortunately, these votes got divided into three different parties. Otherwise, only the Congress party would have come to power in the state.
Congress has won the Siolim constituency for the first time in history. What do you have to say about it?
We have created history in Siolim. The credit for making this history goes to the local voters as well as the women power there. The voting in Siolim was against the BJP.
BJP will form a government with the help of independents. What will be the role of Congress at this time?
Definitely the opponent. The people of the state have not seen the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly for the last ten years, but now the people will get to see it. The people of Goa will be able to see the dutiful opposition who will keep an eye on every move of the government.
Do you want to be the leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly?
The question here is not about aspirations but about fulfilling the responsibility given by the party. All I want to say in this regard is that I am not currently in the race for any post but I will always be ready to fulfil the responsibilities that the Congress party will give me.