Benjamin Silva still undecided; playing it safe leaves the decision to his supporters
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Minorities in general may look at BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, a pariah and an untouchable over the 2002 Gujarat riots.
But Navelim and Benaulim may sound music to the ears of the BJP leadership with the two Catholic non-BJP MLAs representing the two constituencies in minority Salcete batting for NaMo for the post of the Prime Minister.
While Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado has decided to back Modi’s candidature, being a part of the Manohar Parrikar-led alliance government, Goa Vikas Party MLA from Benaulim Caitu Silva have asserted that he too would support Modi’s candidature in the coming polls.
“I am part of the BJP-led government and I have no option than to support the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate”, Avertano told Herald on Monday. The Navelim MLA said he is in the process of consultations with his supporters on the ensuing elections, but wasn’t sure whether he would share the BJP platform to drum up support for Modi’s candidature. Avertano’s stand may not come as a surprise to his close supporters since some of his close aides including a couple of sarpanchas had recently participated in BJP’s election campaign in Navelim constituency. Political analysts believe that Avertano’s stand may have been prompted by pure political compulsions on two counts when he is aware that the Modi magic may not sell in the minority heartland. One, he cannot afford to antagonise the ruling dispensation and risk being dropped from the Cabinet for not supporting the ruling alliance candidate. And secondly, the BJP enjoys a substantial presence in Navelim constituency represented by the Fisheries Minister and without whose support it would not have been possible to rock the Congress fort in the Assembly election.
As far as Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva is concerned, he has disclosed plans to fully back Narendra Modi’s candidature. “People are seeking a change at the centre. The Congress has ruined the country with bad rule during the last 10 years”, Caitu said. “Narendra Modi is acceptable to me and I will ask my people in Benaulim to work for his success at the hustings”, Caitu said.
Incidentally, Caitu’s stand assumes significance given that the GVP is yet to take a final stand on the ensuing elections. Though the GVP is part of the ruling alliance, party supremo Mickky Pacheco said the party will take a collective stand vis-a-vis the Lok Sabha polls. “I do not know what the Benaulim MLA has told the media, but the GVP will take a final call on the election by this week”, Mickky told Herald.
Incidentally, Velim MLA Benjanim D’Silva, one of the three MLAs from Salcete, perceived as being close to the Chief Minister has, however, decided to play safe. Aware that any decision to support Modi may not go down well with his electorate. Benjamin has decided to leave the question to his supporters and workers.
“I have not taken any decision.
Let my supporters and workers take a call on the coming election”, Benjamin added.
