The junior alliance partners in the BJP-led Goa government today said the importance of regional parties cannot be undermined in politics.
The remarks came two days after BJP chief Amit Shah said his party aimed to win in at least 35 out of the total 40 seats in the next Goa elections.
The Manohar Parrikar-led state government, which came to power after the elections in March last year, is currently supported by the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), the Goa Forward Party (GFP), and three Independents.
The MGP and the GFP have three legislators each in the Goa Assembly.
GFP president Vijai Sardesai said, "You can't wish away the regional parties."
On May 13, Shah, while addressing the BJP workers near here, said, "We have to take the oath that in 2019, we will win both the (Lok Sabha) seats (in Goa), and in the next Assembly elections we will win in at least 35 out of the total 40 constituencies in Goa."