PANJIM: While we now know that Mrs Sonia Gandhi was on a visit to Goa to soak in the sun, sea and get much needed rest, she did take out time to meet someone who didn’t seem a part of her holiday plans, Quepem MLA Babu Kavlekar.
Kavlekar, as we know, is gradually cosying up to the BJP though he hasn’t quite taken a decision to jump ship.
Sources said Gandhi stayed at a starred resort in South Goa and that she visited the Shree Shantadurga Kunkalikarin temple at Fatorpa and also the Goa Chitra Museum at Benaulim on Monday.
Kavlekar confirmed that Mrs Gandhi was in Goa for a few days. Asked whether she visited his house, Kavlekar said, “Yes, but it was a personal visit and there was nothing official about it. She was on Mobor beach when some fishermen recognised her with the security detail. She asked them about the party’s chances in the polls and was told that only one MLA Babu Kavlekar is sure to win,” Kavlekar said.
He continued, “That is when she called me and said she is visiting the temple next day and wants to meet and congratulate me.”
Kavlekar said that after the Fatorpa temple visit she visited his house in Betul but nothing was discussed about elections. Sources, however, say that Gandhi went there to persuade Kavlekar not to move out of party to join BJP. None of the party bigwigs were aware of her visit to Kavlekar’s home.
Former chief minister Digambar Kamat also expressed ignorance of Gandhi’s visit. “I am not a party office bearer so there is no question of her meeting me. But I had no information of her visiting Goa,” Kamat told Herald.
