MARGAO
Locked in a fierce battle with bete noire Digambar Kamat for the last 17 years, the Margao unit of the BJP seemed to have resigned to its fate to endorse the decision of the party leadership to throw open the party doors to Kamat.
A couple of city-BJP leaders and workers, however, pointed out that though the party has accepted Kamat into the party-fold, it would be difficult for them to forgive and forget the collapse of the Manohar Parrikar government in 2005 after the Margao MLA had quit.
In fact, an ardent supporter of late Parrikar was categorical in saying that Kamat ought to have accepted his mistake of bringing down the BJP government in 2005. “Today, he spoke of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, but has conveniently avoided making a mention of late Manohar Parrikar, whose contribution cannot be forgotten,” the worker said.
He added: “Kamat told the media that he does not want to go into the past since he does not believe in the past nor the future, but in the present. He should have accepted the mistake he committed in 2005”.
BJP Margao Mandal chief Rupesh Mahatme said the block will welcome the decision if the party has decided to take the eight Congress MLAs.
“The Mandal had never opposed Kamat’s induction into the party. Maybe, some individual workers had expressed their reservations to Kamat’s entry into the party,” he added.
Asked whether he is happy over the news that Kamat is returning to the party fold after 17 years, Mahatme shot back: “There is no question of being happy and unhappy. We are all working for the party with or without power. If the party feels that the decision to induct Kamat and the seven other MLAs is in the interest of the party, we will support the decision.”
