Joshua D'Souza kicks off his election campaign in Mapusa

Mapusa BJP MLA Joshua D'Souza on Sunday sought the blessing of Lord Bodgeshwar at Bodgeshwar temple in Mapusa, kicking off his campaign for next month's 2022 Goa Assembly election.

D'Souza is being seen as BJP's probable candidate for Mapusa constituency.

“I am starting the campaign today and we are following the guidelines of the Election Commission. We have tried to undertake maximum work in Mapusa in the last two and half years of which some are completed, while others are underway and the pending works would be taken up after election. I’m confident of winning the election with more votes compared those polled at the by-polls," D'Souza said.

On being asked about large gathering in his campaign and violation Election Commission's guidelines, he said, "Opponents will continue to make allegations during the campaign. However, People of Mapusa will never fall prey to such misconceptions.”

He was also joined by former Siolim and Porvorim MLA, Dayanand Mandrekar and Rohan Khaunte, who launched his campaign.

Rohan Khaunte assured that they would make sure D'Souza wins with large margins.

He also took a dig at Michael Lobo, who quit BJP to join Congress, without naming him. "D'Souza is neither supported by any individual or is he contesting as someone's candidate. The self-respecting people of Mapusa have to understand what is right for their future."

D'Souza won the 2019 by-election that was necessitated by the death of his father and former Mapusa MLA Francis.