Goa Polls: PM Modi urges EC to take a note on TMC MP's remark

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today accused the Trinamool Congress of overtly attempting to split the Hindu vote in Goa by allying with MGP. He requested the Election Commission to take note of TMC MP Mahua Moitra’s statement while speaking at a rally in Kanpur Dehat. 

ममता बनर्जी की पार्टी उनके एक नेता जो गोवा में चुनाव पहली बार लड़ रहे हैं उनसे पूछा गया कि गोवा में आपकी पार्टी का कोई वजूद तो है नहीं, आप यहां चुनाव लड़ने क्यों आए हो।

वो कहते है कि हमने तो इस पार्टी से इसलिए गठंधन किया है, क्योंकि हम गोवा में हिंदू वोटों को बांटना चाहते हैं।

ममता बनर्जी की पार्टी उनके एक नेता जो गोवा में चुनाव पहली बार लड़ रहे हैं उनसे पूछा गया कि गोवा में आपकी पार्टी का कोई वजूद तो है नहीं, आप यहां चुनाव लड़ने क्यों आए हो।

वो कहते है कि हमने तो इस पार्टी से इसलिए गठंधन किया है, क्योंकि हम गोवा में हिंदू वोटों को बांटना चाहते हैं।

— BJP (@BJP4India) February 14, 2022

Elections are being held today in 40 seats across the BJP-ruled state of Goa, where Mamata Banerjee’s party is attempting to extend its foothold. Results will be declared on March 10.

What Mahua Moitra said?

Moitra claimed in an interview that the TMC’s ally Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) was running neck and neck with the BJP in North Goa. She claimed that the TMC’s partnership has splintered the Hindu vote, which is the BJP’s stronghold. Since the 1990s, the BJP has partnered with the MGP on several occasions, the most recent being in 2017. 2 out 3 MGP MLAs joined BJP after which MGP withdrew support from the Pramod Sawant cabinet.

The TMC leade’ was questioned about her party’s involvement, which resulted in the non-BJP votes being split by standing against the saffron party as one of the many alternatives. To which Mahua Moitra responded that the TMC has teamed up with the regional Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, notably in North Goa, where the Congress is weak (MGP). While the MGP is at odds with the BJP. So, the alliance between TMC & MGP would not give the BJP an edge.

In the worst-case scenario, the BJP might win only 12 seats as the single largest party. “BJP will try to break up parties, utilise the ED, CBI, and form the government,” she claimed, alleging that the Governor of Goa will allow the BJP to form the government in any situation.

“If Congress were in a position to win 21 seats, I would pack my bags and leave because I am not here to battle the Congress,” she said.

Even with 17 seats, they failed badly in 2017 when they refused to form a government.” “Should we leave it to them, I can’t take a risk,” she added.

She stated that her party is open to the possibility of forming an anti-BJP alliance with the Congress, AAP, Trinamool, and MGP. “Without MGP-TMC, no one is going to form a government,” she added.