BJP plays green card for Goa by-poll

PANAJI - For a change, environmental issues will take centre stage during a Goa assembly by-poll next month, where elections are normally marked by charges and counter-charges by the political parties.

Illegal mining, rapid deforestation will the major issues for the Oct 16 Valpoi by-poll, state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Laxmikant Parsenkar Sunday said.

The by-poll, expected to be a close fight between Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane of the Congress and Santosh Haldankar of the BJP, was a fight to protect the greenery of Valpoi, Paresenkar said at a press conference here.

Valpoi is around 50 km from here.

“Rane’s interest is mining. He is supporting illegal mining in Valpoi. People should vote for the BJP for greenery,” Parsenkar said.

“Environment is the most important issue in this by-poll. The BJP is fighting to ensure that the Valpoi region stays green,” Arti Mehra, BJP’s national secretary in-charge of Goa said.

The by-poll was necessitated after sitting legislator Vishwajeet Rane, elected as an independent candidate, resigned and joined the Congress.

– Indo Asian News Service