PANJIM: In a sudden and politically significant development, all 21 BJP MLAs of Goa have been summoned to Mumbai for a day-long meeting with BJP national president Amit Shah. The call came a day ago and all 21 MLAs, including Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, are expected to travel on the same flight at 7 am to Mumbai, for a meeting which will take place at a sprawling campus in Thane district built in the memory of Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the founder of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
MLAs from Maharashtra and Gujarat have been called along with the Goan MLAs apparently for some tough talking on getting their party units and their governance in shape and/or face swift remedial moves by the Centre, which could include sweeping changes in government. A senior party insider said that the States which worry the national leadership have been called.
However, as the RSS and the BJP are wont to do, an official line for this meeting has been kept ready and will be played out by all and sundry when questions are asked. The line is that the MLAs have been called to give a status report on the Mahasampark Abhiyan, the mass contact programme initiated by the party wherein the party organisation is expected to reach out to new members and enhance synergy between party and government in BJP-ruled States and prepare to win back power in non-BJP ruled States.
Interestingly, most MLAs are not fully aware why the meeting has been called, nor do they know where it will take place. Herald’s sources have revealed though that the principal venue will be Keshav Srushti an educational, farming and irrigation hub in a 200-acre land donated to the RSS by a disciple, at Utan in the Thane district. Over the years, several sensitive meetings of the Sangh Parivar have been held at Keshav Srushti.
According to one of the BJP MLAs, the meeting is expected to underline the concerns of the national leadership of the BJP’s popularity fall in Goa. The alienation of the minorities, which came into sharp focus when minority BJP MLAs petitioned the government to clear the opening of and extensions for educational institutions run by the Church, is also a subject for discussion.
As a political strategy, the long-term relationship with allies (like the MGP in Goa) will be dovetailed into the discussion.
Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral, speaking to the Herald said, “Yes, all of us have been called. This is connected to the Mahasampark Abhiyan, but we do not know where the meeting will be held in Mumbai.”
Another MLA, who stands a good chance of becoming a minister, was more forthright, “Don’t be surprised if there are drastic changes announced and some ministers are dropped, paving the way for new ministers or something even bigger may take place.”
Whether this is in the realm of reality or wishful thinking, time will tell but for now it is the 8 am arrival at Mumbai, on Thursday, that Goa’s MLAs will have to think of. From there, it’s a journey into the unknown.
