MARGAO
As the BJP welcomed former Goa Haj Committee Chairman Mohammed Iqbal, Sohan Almeida and Suresh into the party-fold on Thursday, State party President Sadanand Tanavade sent a clear signal that the ruling dispensation will leave no stone unturned to wrest control of the Margao Municipal Council.
Candid enough in admitting that the BJP could not control the Margao Municipality ever since Margao MLA Digambar Kamat quit the party to embrace the Congress, Tanavade said the winds have now started blowing in favour of the BJP in the commercial capital.
In fact, the BJP State president conveyed a message that the ruling party is ready to storm the MMC for the first time after the last decade and half. “The last time the BJP had won in Margao was in 2002. That time Digambar Kamat was with us. In 2005, Kamat had quit the party. We want to win in Margao. The atmosphere in Margao is loud and clear that Madgavkars definitely will get BJP-backed candidates elected to the Margao Municipality in the coming elections,” Tanavade said, after welcoming Iqbal, Almeida and Suresh in the presence of party Margao president Rupesh Mahatme, Sharmad Raiturkar, Urfan Mulla, Ketan Kurtarkar and Naveen Raikar.
When questioned whether there was something lacking in the party that has prompted the party to open the doors for people from other parties, Tanavade said, “There was nothing lacking in the party. The party has to grow and there is no harm in welcoming people if they want to join the party for the benefit of the society.”
Trying to downplay his role as the party coordinator for the Margao Municipality election, Tanavade said the party has appointed coordinators for every municipality to oversee the preparation and selection of candidates.
When questioned over the reason for deciding to field the party top leaders in the ensuing polls for the MMC, he said the reason is to give Madgavkars the confidence to vote for the party candidates since these leaders had all worked for the party over the years.
Saying the BJP has finalised the list of candidates for all the 25 seats for the Margao Municipal Council, Tanavade exuded confidence that Madgavkars will this time give the BJP a chance since the Margao MLA has not done much for the city during his tenure.
Saying that Mohammed Iqbal was a former Congress minority vice-president, Tanavade said the ruling BJP will fullfil the aspirations of the those who have joined the party.
Iqbal told the media that he decided to join the BJP after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced to work for the minorities in the State. “The State president Tanavade is a down to earth person and I am confident we will all work as a family,” he added.
Kamat says Iqbal has been with BJP since 2012
MARGAO: Margao MLA and Leader of the Opposition, Digambar Kamat sought to downplay Mohammed Iqbal’s decision to embrace the ruling BJP, saying that he (Iqbal) has been with the BJP since the time of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
When his attention was drawn to the fact that Iqbal has joined the BJP, Kamat shot back “he (Iqbal) was always with them. Since the time of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Iqbal has been with the BJP since 2012.”
When asked whether Iqbal’s decision to join the BJP will affect him and the Congress in the coming elections, Kamat quipped “Iqbal’s decision to join the BJP will not affect anyone”.
