New Delhi:Despite some groups raising a voice against him, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to contest next years Goa Assembly elections under current Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. A well placed source said that the issue was discussed at a high level meeting and it was decided that Sawant will lead the party in the Assembly polls.
A senior leader told the media that the BJP government in Goa led by Sawant is doing a good job and will return to power under his leadership. "Goa elections will be fought under Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. The issue was discussed at length and the central leadership is confident of returning to power under him and has asked the state unit to devise specific plans," said the senior BJP leader.
According to a party insider, however, contesting elections under the leadership of Sawant is no guarantee that he would be made the Chief Minister if the BJP returned to power. "You saw what happened in Assam. Elections were contested under Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal but after the results the party made Himanta Biswa Sarma the Chief Minister. So the Assam model is also something that is keeping everyone on their toes," said another leader.
Read:Cong, BJP prepare for 2022 Goa polls with Covid in mind
A party functionary said: "Who the Chief Minister will be is a decision that is taken by the central leadership and parliamentary board and that is not an issue to be discussed at this juncture." Another senior saffron party leader said the party was concerned over the recent infighting between Sawant and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane over Covid-19 management.