PANJIM: Rohan Khaunte had once called Pramod Sawant a “pappu”, a sobriquet usually reserved for Rahul Gandhi by his detractors. The Porvorim MLA did one of the biggest U-turns, even by the standards of Goan politics, and decided to join and work with the same man (and his party) who he had, 57 days ago demanded be sacked. Khaunte had made that demand after former Goa governor Satya Pal Mallik had mentioned the large scale and rampant corruption in the corridors of power in Goa.
On Friday, former Minister Rohan Khaunte marched and joined the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) along with his supporters at a function held below the BJP office, Panjim, standing next to the very person he wanted removed as Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant.
This sudden move to join the BJP after keeping more than one foot in the Congress has surprised many and Khaunte has been unable to offer any logical explanation for this. Perhaps because there isn’t any. He has only stated that this decision was jointly taken by panch members the sarpanch and the Zilla Parishad member. But that still doesn’t explain why they and he took this decision.
What he offered seemed to be a weak and forced explanation. Khaunte disclosed that his supporters and workers and well-wishers after analysing the political situation suggested that the BJP is the only party, which can provide stable and pre-development governance.
Khaunte said that the present scenario in the State’s politics has left the BJP as the only credible party. “We don’t want to be a toy (khelne) in the hand of someone. They say “Khel Zatlo” but the entire game seems to be towards running the State politically and economically,” he said.
But less than two months ago he not only wanted the BJP government to be dismissed but called for opposition unity to defeat the BJP. (See box to go back and read what Khaunte said about the BJP very recently)
Maharashtra Leader of the Opposition and the party’s Goa election in-charge Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Babu Kavalekar, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, BJP State president Sadanand Shet Tanavade, Aldona MLA Glen Ticlo and other leaders, welcomed Khaunte into the party.
The former Minister said that the Congress has already left the battlefield leaving the Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) to invade the voters.
“We will not allow Goans to be taken for granted. We have our own identity and we will not allow the outsider parties to grab it with their three-month mission,” he said.
Admitting that he had criticised CM Sawant in the past, Khaunte said that agreement and disagreement are part of politics and differences are bound to happen on subjects. But nothing is personal. “Now we have come together, and I will work along with the Chief Minister for the betterment of the State,” he said.
Welcoming Khaunte into the BJP, Tanavade said that Khaunte took this decision in the interest of the people. He claimed that the BJP will secure a majority in the ensuing Assembly elections and form the next government.
Sawant said that Khaunte always performed as a constructive opposition and raised issues concerning the State. He said that leaders and workers from different political parties were joining the BJP.
But the people of Goa are not naïve. They understand the reasons why decisions like this are taken and the compulsions behind them.
Later in the evening, Khaunte accompanied by Fadnavis left for New Delhi and met BJP national president J P Nadda. Posting a photograph on twitter, Fadnavis said, “Met our @BJP4India National President Hon @JPNadda ji with @RohanKhaunte in New Delhi, this evening.”
You said this, Rohan? Do you take it back now?
a) CM Sawant should be sacked
After former Goa Governor said that the entire system in Goa was corrupt, Khaunte remarked: “The Chief Minister has no right to continue and must resign or be sacked and President’s Rule should be imposed in the state… during my interaction with Malik when he was Goa Governor, he had said that he had never seen a more corrupt government.”
b) CM’s loyalties are not towards Goans
Time and again, he’s proved to be less of Goa CM and more of BJP’s Delhi representative acting in favour of BJP’s interests in neighbouring States. Be it Mhadei or Mollem, our CM’s loyalties are to the opposite side & not Goans!
c) There is corruption in Mopa
The government had issued a construction license without taking a license fee for the Mopa airport
