If leadership permits, BJP would have 30 MLAs: CT Ravi

BJP general secretary and Goa in-charge CT Ravi on Saturday said five to six non-BJP MLAs in the state are in touch with the party and he is awaiting clearance from the central leadership to bring them onboard.

BJP currently has 20 MLAs in Goa out of 40 assembly seats. In addition, the party has the support of three independent MLAs and two from MGP.

"During the election our slogan was to win 20 seats. Now we are 25. Don't worry, we will be 30 in 2022, if party central leadership gives permission," Ravi said at a BJP state executive meeting in Goa.


The meeting was attended by chief minister Pramod Sawant, union minister Sripad Naik, and state BJP president Sadanand Shet Tanavade among others.

During his speech, Ravi also claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the most popular world leader. "The most popular leader of the world is not US president Joe Biden but Narendra Modi. We saw in his recent trip to Japan, he was leading the world," he said.

When ET spoke to him, Ravi didn't divulge any details about the Goan MLAs who are likely to join BJP. However, he took a dig at Congress over leaders leaving the party. "Ever since Congress has done a Chintan Baithak in Udaipur, we are witnessing the impact of it," he told ET. "Within a few days of meeting, Hardik Patel in Gujarat and Sunil Jakhar in Punjab left the party. This is not going to stop, and more and more leaders will leave the party."