Panaji, Nov 27, : , A Catholic BJP MLA from Goa demanded 35% tickets for members of the minor community for the 2022 state assembly elections. Carlos Almeida (Bharatiya Janata Party) legislator from Vasco assembly constituency stated that the BJP had returned to power in Goa — a state in which minorities make up almost 33 percent of the state’s nearly 1.5 million inhabitants.
“In 2012, then CM Manohar Parrikar gave minorities seats.
He got 21 seats and the BJP in Goa was given two additional seats.The second time, in 2017, Parrikar gave many seats to minorities.
We formed the government again, but with fewer seats,” Almeida said to reporters.
“Later (in 2019, 10 Congress MLAs joined BJP), out of which 8 minorities,” he stated, referring to the 2019 merger of 10 Congress MPLAs into BJP.
Currently, 15 of the 27 BJP MLAs in India are Catholics.
Almeida now demands that the BJP allocate at least 35% of the 40 state assembly seats to minor candidates so that Catholics can join the BJP.
“I request the party to give 35% seats to minorities.” He said that minorities would join the BJP.
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