PANJIM: This is a story, not too many people are aware of. Old timers recall that when Manohar Parrikar came to Panjim from Mapusa to contest from here in 1994, his official residential address in his poll papers was the residence of Krishnaraj (Raju) Sukerkar’s house. And if there was any family, Mr Parrikar could call truly as his own, it was Sukerkar’s, a well known business family from Panjim with very strong RSS roots.
When Manohar Parrikar first contested from Panjim, it was Sukerkar who had been considered to be the party’s first choice. However, since Parrikar was his senior even in the RSS, the party’s Parliamentary Committee had chosen him, despite being a resident of Mapusa, over Sukerkar as their candidate.
For all the ‘gains’ the Defence Minister has got by getting Congressmen to cross over, albeit amidst deep resentment in a section of the cadre in these places, the decision of Sukerkar to contest against the BJP’s candidate in Panjim, will be a personal loss for Mr Parrikar, more than a political one.
And yet politically, Sukerkar’s presence could be the single biggest damaging factor for the BJP, in any constituency in Goa. His entry has caused alarm in the BJP camp, more so because Sukerkar, once a BJP loyalist, immediately accepted the election challenge that was offered to him.
The RSS rebel leader had split from the BJP following a dispute between the RSS and BJP over the issue of Medium of Instruction (MoI) issue in primary schools.
He describes his close links with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, as ‘personal and not political’. “We are friends but we don’t mix friendship with politics. I am sincere in my work and my party understands that,” he told Herald.
Asked whether the denial of a BJP ticket when Mr Parrikar moved to Delhi after resigning as the Panjim MLA and Chief Minister, was a reason to join the GSM, Sukerkar discounted this, claiming the sole reason was the language issue. “It is the MoI issue. We had been consistently demanding that grants to English schools be stopped and that the government lend its support to Konkani and Marathi. My decision to contest the elections is to push the party’s ideal and achieve this goal,” he stated.
A party source revealed that since Sukerkar has a sizeable following, being a former RSS Goa North Goa Chief and former BJP member, votes for Siddharth Kunkolienkar could see a division.
A record tenure of 14 years with RSS in Goa has garnered him many supporters with thousands trained under him. “He has taught discipline, manners, nationalism and distanced his students from different vices or evil acts. He is a popular figure among the people,” GSM President Anand Shirodkar told Herald.
However, BJP spokesperson Kiran Kandolkar does not feel so. “People will vote for BJP considering the amount of development activities, schemes and other works carried out in the last five years. It does not matter to us who leaves and joins another party. We have loyal karyakartas and people who will vote for us,” he said, confident that BJP will win more than 25 seats, including Panjim, this coming election.
While Sukerkar claims he has no political animosity despite BJP having rejected his candidature in the past. “I don’t take anybody as my opponent. I have nothing against the government or anybody contesting against me,” he asserted.
Shirodkar too seconded this stating that their Panjim candidate is a friend of all. “He has no enemy. All are his friends,” he said.
But his fight against the incumbent Panjim BJP MLA, will, by no means, be a friendly one.
