PANJIM: The ongoing war within the RSS and the BJP close on the heels of 2017 Assembly polls seems to have started giving sleepless nights to the ruling party MLAs.
More so because the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) is already planning to announce fielding candidates for the forthcoming elections.
BJP State unit president Vinay Tendulkar refused to comment on former RSS chief in Goa Subash Velingkar but said he was not against BBSM floating a new party.
“Velingkar’s sacking is their internal matter which I would not like to comment upon,” he said.
However, he said, “we would not like to comment on BBSM’s decision but in a democracy, everybody has the right to float a party and contest elections.”
“We (RSS-BJP) have worked together for ages and will continue to do so. This (RSS leaving BJP) has not happened elsewhere in the country and will never happen,” Tendulkar added.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo says the issue needs to be sorted out at the earliest.
“This may not have much impact in my constituency but elsewhere there are RSS workers supporting BJP and it could have an impact and I feel the issue has to be sorted out at the earliest,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza has also clearly said the issue needs to be studied and sorted out soon.
“We have no idea and only time will tell what impact this crisis may have on election results. I have some RSS workers as supporters but I don’t know to what extent they would react,” he said.
While Michael and D’Souza spoke on the issue, others refused to be quoted citing the controversial nature of the issue.
“Our party leaders are seized of the situation and are working to resolve the problem so let us wait and watch,” said an MLA.
Another said the issue may have major impact in rural areas of Mandrem, Siolim, Bicholim, Sanguem, Thivim and Quepem where there are large number of RSS sevaks.
“Most of our supporters are also workers of RSS, what happens if they decide to vote for the new party floated by BBSM. It will clearly divide BJP votes,” he said.
“It is not the time to gauge the impact of the issue but to see how it can be rectified. We don’t have much time left on our hands,” said one leader from north.
He said that the opposition, which is non-existent right now, should not get an opportunity to make a comeback.
