Team Herald
PANJIM: Even as speculation is rife that Goa BJP’s former organisational secretary Satish Dhond – now heading the Konkan region and Thane district – will make a comeback to the State, party leaders denied there are any plans for his homecoming.
BJP State President Vinay Tendulkar said there is no proposal either from the State BJP or Central leadership seeking Dhond’s transfer to Goa. “We had sought his presence over a year ago, when Goa went for the Assembly elections, but there is no fresh proposal and neither has the National BJP communicated to us about his (Dhond) return to the party fold,” Tendulkar told Herald, allaying speculation about Dhond’s comeback to Goa.
Several senior leaders also claimed that in the absence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, the party functioning, and that of its various wings, will continue as usual. “There are many competent leaders like Tendulkar, Narendra Sawaikar (MP) and others. They are capable of monitoring the functioning of the party and guiding the workers. I don’t think we should disturb Dhond’s present posting in the neighbouring State,” a senior BJP leader said.
Another office bearer said the party’s functioning will not be affected by the absence of Parrikar as the Chief Minister will continue to guide the party from the US where he will undergo advanced treatment for pancreatitis. “CM has ensured that the party’s performance is not affected. Many senior leaders will also oversee the functioning. The pre-planned programmes ahead of the Lok Sabha elections will be carried on without any hurdle. Our leaders will keep updating the CM in the US,” he said.
Speculation was triggered when Dhond was seen in the Legislative Assembly complex on February 22 the day Parrikar flew back from Mumbai to table the Budget. He was thereafter seen for about 15 minutes at Parrikar’s residence at Dona Paula on Monday, minutes before the Chief Minister left for Mumbai.
Touted as Goa’s Amit Shah, Dhond was shunted out of Goa in July 2015 and posted in the two regions to strengthen the party base there. Laxmikant Parsekar was then holding the reins of the State after Parrikar was inducted in the Union Ministry an given the Defence portfolio in November 2014.
