BJP rubbishes Cong' claim of regime change after May 23

An enraged BJP on Sunday rubbished claims by Atanasio Monserrate that the opposition party would be forming a government in the coastal state once results to the four Assembly bypolls are announced on May 23.

Monserrate is the Congress' candidate for the upcoming Lok sabha bypolls in the prestigious Panaji seat, where the BJP is facing a close contest.

Panaji was represented by the late Manohar Parrikar from 1994 to 2014.

The saffron party insists that when results to the Lok Sabha and bypolls are announced, the party's coalition government will emerge stronger than before.

"The Congress is day-dreaming. They do not know what they are talking about. One thing is certain that the BJP will win the two Lok Sabha seats and four Assembly bypolls 6-0," state BJP president Vinay Tendulkar told a press conference on Sunday.

"Our government will emerge stronger once the results are announced. The Congress will be crushed in Goa," Tendulkar said.

The BJP-led coalition alliance was in crisis after Parrikar's death on March 17, but was hammered into shape after the saffron party's central leaders negotiated with coalition partners in the state.

The Pramod Sawant-led coalition government is currently surviving with a slender majority and the BJP would earn some breathing space if it manages to perform well in the four bypolls, three of which (Shiroda, Mapusa and Mandrem) have already gone to polls on April 23.

Meanwhile, the Congress is looking at the bypolls as a way to catapult itself into power. "We are confident that the bypoll results will favour the Congress party, which will make a bid for power soon after May 23," Monserrate claims.