Hailing from separate regions, one is a rebel Congress leader from across Goa’s border who has just won the assembly elections, while the other is a Congress leader from Ponda who has suffered a second major setback in as many years. One is entering into the limelight of his career with many ideas, whereas the other seems to be running out of ideas and could well be into the twilight of his career
I ‘saved’ Karwar constituency for Cong: Sail
He was officially with the Congress until he was denied the party ticket in the recent Karnataka assembly elections. An undeterred Satish Sail contested as an Independent and sailed past outgoing Karnataka minister and Karwar MLA Anand Asnotikar, son-in-law of former Goa minister late Sanjay Bandekar.
The Congress is in power in Karnataka, but Sail maintains that he has “saved” Karwar constituency for the Congress, by defeating a BJP candidate. But more than just pledging to develop Karwar constituency, the first-time MLA is keen to promote the “old cordial relations” between Karwar and Goa.
Responding to claims that he had ditched the Congress by standing as a rebel candidate, Sail explained: “It’s not correct to say that I have ditched the Congress. In fact, by contesting this election, I have saved this constituency for Congress because I was in Congress, I am in Congress & I will be in Congress. It is unfortunate that I didn’t get Congress ticket to contest this election and I suspect some high-handedness by some top leaders in the party to favour Asnotikar. The party high command should expose the joker.”
“Had I not contested this election as a rebel Congress candidate, Asnotikar would have easily won this election. I was shocked when told that Ramanand Nayak was the official Congress candidate. At that time, I thought of giving up politics and sticking to my business and social work. But the Congress block of Karwar and Ankola and my well-wishers persuaded me to contest as a rebel candidate and I could defeat Asnotikar by 36,000 votes. Since I have saved this constituency for Congress by defeating a BJP candidate, I am sure I will get the full support of the Karnataka government,” added Sail.
The newly elected MLA emphasised the need for Karwar and Goa to maintain their old cordial relations, given their historical and cultural closeness, but was quick to add that this relation has been strained by Goa’s entry tax on outstation vehicles.
“Several communities in Karwar have their “Kuladevatas” in Goa and vice versa. For example, Goan industrialist, Srinivas Dempo, visits Ankola and stays there for about 10 days to worship Goddess Mahamaya. My family and I go to Mallikarjun at Canacona for our religious ceremonies,” he said.
“However, Goa’s entry tax on outstation vehicles has put a small hurdle in this cordial relation. While I thank Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for offering a concession to vehicles registered in Karwar, I humbly request him to give a similar concession to vehicles registered in other districts surrounding Goa. Transporters will end up passing on the entry fee on residents of Goa. Hence, I would request Parrikar to reconsider this idea of the entry tax.”
Expressing his desire to promote eco-friendly units in Karwar, Sail said he would promote industries similar to the ones set up in Goa.
“There are a number of medical factories operating in Goa and given the similar topography between Karwar and Goa, I would welcome those who wish to establish a tablet/capsule unit or a bottling plant, which are not hazardous industries.”
“I would also welcome the hotel industry, since this area has high tourism potential. It will help to generate employment. There are measures to control the pollution and strict application of those measures can boost a pollution-free industrial growth,” summed up Sail.
