Goa Election 2022: Michael Lobo facing anti-incumbency, was likely to be denied BJP ticket, says Fadnavis

PANAJI: A day after former BJP Calangute MLA Michael Lobo joined Congress, Goa BJP election incharge Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said that Lobo made the move as he was unsure of bagging the BJP ticket.
The BJP’s survey reports said that there was anti-incumbency against Lobo, he said. “Those who are leaving BJP know that there is anti-incumbency against them, that is what BJP’s survey results say.They, therefore, knew that a BJP ticket is likely to be denied to them and have left. The party is taking in people where it knows that the combined strength of BJP and the candidate can translate into a win with a big margin,” Fadnavis said.
He said that Lobo had also demanded a ticket for his wife, which BJP could not give to him.
“Michael Lobo has taken whatever benefits he could by being in BJP and now he wants a ticket for his wife, too. He cannot be given this in BJP. Congress is giving him the ticket along with a ticket for his wife,” Fadnavis said. The Goa BJP election incharge said that the NCP’s recent call to align against BJP in Goa will not yield any results.
“For Lok Sabha polls too, Sharad Pawar entered the ring and everyone came together to form a Maha Agadi alliance. They all held hands and clicked photos. But all this yielded no results. Only one thing is clear from such efforts that they are aware of BJP’s strength. Therefore, they are trying to come together to stop the BJP from winning. But their attempts have failed before and will fail again now,” Fadnavis said.
He said he does not want to respond to any comments made by Shiv Sena MP and the party’s Goa desk in-charge Sanjay Raut on Goa polls as the party has no existence in Goa.
“Who recognises Sanjay Raut in Goa? I don’t understand why he should be given any importance. His party is polling lower votes than NOTA in Goa. Why should we be asked questions based on statements made by the spokesperson of such a party. Let them poll more than NOTA, then we will think about responding,” Fadnavis said.