PRATIK PARAB
The Congress in Margao, is bracing itself for a fall, with the Louis Berger fire threatening to engulf the political fortunes of Digambar Kamat. But it is the embers of this fire that the BJP is seeking for its political resurrection in the capital of Salcete and South Goa. Suddenly the fortress of Margao, guarded for over a decade by Digambar Kamat looks vulnerable. But the ground realities of the BJP’s attempted come back are riddled with deep infighting and a fierce race to get the coveted ticket to take on Digambar Kamat in Margao.
There are 5 centres of localised power in BJP that have emerged now. And another fringe player, called Advocate Rajiv Gomes who is emerging as a people’s man and who has BJP leanings. One of the sources close to Margao BJP has informed that presently 5 prominent names are Bhai Naik, Sharmad Pai Raiturkar, Rupesh Mahatme, Chandan Naik and Navin Pai Raikar. Spoilt for choice? Not really! It’s more like so many choices may actually spoil it for the BJP.
However, the sentiment is that the gravity of the situation has to be understood and the Mr X who will be the BJP face has to be named and promoted soon or it will be too late to damage Fort Digambar in Margao. Yet another Chef de Mission who has recently but strongly surfaced in Margao is Adv Rajiv Gomes. He has however, chosen the people’s route and is not officially with the BJP but his leanings are well known.
Meanwhile, the BJP “karyakarta” of Margao is totally lost and is in a fix due to the dilly dallying of the party and still pondering over the selection of a leader. On the other hand, there is frustration in the BJP over the free run the Congress MLA from Margao has been getting by managing to escape custody in the Louis Berger case. “What’s going on? We are highly frustrated with the way the Margao MLA has been escaping the clutches of the law with success,” said one top Karyakarta when Digambar Kamat was given bail.
