PANJIM/MARGAO: While the heat of political action radiates, it also burns. As eight “development-oriented” Congress MLAs moved to BJP with at least one of them getting clearance from ‘God’, the door with the welcome or the welcome back sign has still not been opened for them, by the BJP cadre in those constituencies.
Speaking to Herald reporters who moved in most of the eight hitherto Congress constituencies that will now be BJP ruled, the BJP cadre, grassroots workers, and the BJP candidate who lost the Assembly elections to the new defector to the party, are not pleased. They make no bones about the fact that they were not a party to the decision and were only “informed”.
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Sensing resentment among core workers across the eight constituencies with the entry of Congress MLAs into the saffron fold, the BJP State leadership has decided to undertake immediate corrective measures to pacify the cadres.
In the Core Committee meeting held on Thursday, the party decided that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and State president Sadanand Shet Tanavade will personally visit the constituencies and interact with senior leaders and mandals in an attempt to keep them intact.
However, the State leadership is clear that the decision was taken by the centre. Keeping aside personal opinions of State leaders, who may not have agreed to defection and merger of Congress MLAs, BJP State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade said: “The decision to induct eight Congress MLAs was taken by the Central leadership.
Once the Central leadership takes a decision, we have to stand by it. We cannot hold separate opinions. All the eight leaders had met Central leaders in Delhi after which instructions had come to us,” Tanavade said.
After Michael Lobo ditched BJP and joined Congress with his wife Delilah in the run-up to the State Assembly elections in February, the party welcomed Joseph Sequeira in Calangute. In Saligao also, the party had given the ticket to new entrant Jayesh Salgaonkar upsetting senior leader and ex-minister Dilip Parulekar. Jayesh, who lost to Kedar Naik, had resigned from Goa Forward Party (GFP) to join BJP.
In Siolim, BJP went ahead with ex-minister Dayanand Mandrekar, who was defeated by Delilah and in Mormugao, Milind Naik had lost to arch-rival Sankalp Amonkar. Former Minister Pandurang Madkaikar’s wife Janita had contested in Cumbarjua against Congress’ Rajesh Faldesai.
On the other hand, Santa Cruz, Margao, and Nuvem had never been on BJP’s list, though the party often fielded candidates there.
Tanavade informed that following Wednesday’s political development, the Chief Minister had telephonic communication with Dilip (Parulekar), Jayesh (Salgaonkar), and also Milind (Naik). “But it is important that we meet them up and hold a discussion,” he said.
Strong wave of resentment in the constituencies
The mandal units, if not all presidents from these constituencies appeared disappointed with the decision but stated that they would abide by the party decision.
“Though this is not the biggest deceit I have faced by the party, but of course it hurts as the local grass root level workers put in their blood and sweat to build the party only to know that their leader has been suddenly replaced by some new entrant from other political parties, said Dilip Parulekar, former Saligao MLA.
In Cumbarjua, Siddhesh Naik, North Goa Zilla Panchayat president, said a lot without saying much, “We are relaxed and have no comments to offer on the joining of Cumbarjua MLA into BJP. I will continue serving the people under my position as North Goa ZP Adhyaksh,” he said.
Chandan Vargaonkar, Cumbarjua BJP Mandal President, showed no emotion but his tone and use of words said it all, “Party decision is final. We have no separate opinion. We will be meeting the MLA soon.”
In St Cruz, former Congress turned BJP St Cruz MLA, Tony Fernandes, himself a defector, didn’t say much, with the decision out of his hands.
“He (Rudolf) might have taken a decision to join BJP due to his supporters. We will stand by the party. My only request to MLA is to complete the projects such as underground cabling approved by me and under various stages of completion,” he said.
Ground-level organisation leaders received calls moments before the defection was finalised
Pramod Kamat, the St Cruz BJP Mandal President said, “A few hours before joining, my party president Sadanand Shet Tanavade called me and informed me about the decision. This is the second time Congress MLA has joined BJP. Party decision is binding on us. We have to follow it.”
In the Nuvem constituency Sarpanch of Nagoa Village Panchayat Gabriel Fernandes along with the ruling group of panchas issued a statement on Thursday clarifying that they did not advise Nuvem MLA Aleixo Sequeira to defect to the BJP from Congress.
“Out of these seven, I would like to clarify that four panchas namely, Deputy Sarpanch Treza Faria, then panch of Ward No 5 Glivina Vaz, panch of Ward No 4 Anzil Godinho, and myself had not met our MLA Sequeira on the above topic or in clear terms, urged him to defect,” Fernandes said.
Sources informed Herald that the people across the Nuvem constituency have been contacting panchas of the four village panchayats attending the meeting to find out who had advised Sequeira to defect. The other panchayats were Majorda, Loutolim and Verna.
A large number of locals have even sought to know what the religious leaders in the constituency have to say about the MLA’s defection.
