PANAJI: The North Goa MP, Mr Shripad Naik on Thursday said that he and his supporters will actively participate in the Bharatiya Janata Party campaign for the forthcoming assembly election, which is scheduled to begin on February 13.

“The ongoing Janasampark Abhiyan is a warm up to our assembly election campaign starting on February 13,” he observed.
Rubbishing the news reports that he would refrain from participating in the BJP campaign as the central BJP leadership has prevented him from contesting the assembly election, Mr Naik told ‘The Navhind Times’ that he and his supporters would never do anything that will harm the party. “I cannot think on such lines,” he said.
The North Goa MP, in the same breath said that he has sought justification from the BJP’s central leadership about its drastic decision of not permitting him to contest the forthcoming assembly election.
“I am awaiting their version as I have no idea why they blocked me from moving to state politics,” he maintained, pointing out that all the reasons for this decision as quoted by a section of the local media such as requirement of his presence in the Lok Sabha during the voting on the Lokpal Bill, or possible mid-term polls taking place for the Lok Sabha are entirely baseless and fabricated.
Speaking further, Mr Naik said that after the related decision of the central BJP leadership was convened to him, he held a meeting of his supporters and told them to abide by the party’s decision. “There is absolutely no truth that I am all set to revolt against the party for its decision,” he noted.
“At present, I am keenly awaiting the justification from the BJP central leadership on its decision and once I know the reason for the decision, I would analyse the same to reach a conclusion,” he mentioned.
Replying to a question as to whether the central leadership, the state leadership or the political situation itself had been responsible for asking him not to contest the assembly election, Mr Naik said that he cannot reach any conclusion until he knows why he was denied an opportunity to enter the state politics.