KATHY FERNANDES
CANACONA
Congress leaders on Wednesday rushed to Canacona to meet a dispirited MLA Isidore Fernandes, after he blamed the Congress for missing several opportunities to form the government and admitted having received offers from the BJP.
The BJP leaders were also in contact with the Canacona MLA over possible plans by Fernandes to join the party.
Speculations ran high since Wednesday morning after the midnight drama which saw two MGP MLA’s defecting to the BJP, that the BJP’s next surgical strike would be on the Canacona’s Congress MLA.
Congress MLAs Reginald Lourenco, Wilfred D’Sa and Philip Neri Rodrigues called on Fernandes late Tuesday night to persuade the Canacona MLA not to fall prey to the BJP. By late Wednesday morning, a local TV channel began to claim that Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes was likely to join BJP.
This prompted other Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar and South-Goa Congress candidate Francisco Sardinha, to rush to Canacona to meet Fernandes.
Confirming the visit of the Congress leaders at his Loliem house and phone calls from a few others, Fernandes said: “Yes, they were after me not to leave Congress, particularly at this juncture considering the Lok Sabha polls. They were trying to persuade me despite reassuring them that I would not leave the Congress.”
Asked if the BJP had also been in touch with him on Wednesday, Fernandes replied in the affirmative.
“BJP leaders are also after me to resign from Congress and join their party. The frequency of their contacts has virtually doubled since late Tuesday night.”
Sources claimed that BJP’s concerted efforts to rope in Fernandes have been to ensure that it becomes the single largest party in Goa Assembly before going to the Lok Sabha polls and three by-elections in the assembly. At present, Congress and BJP are tied with 14 legislators apiece. Getting Fernandes to resign as MLA would reduce the Congress to 13 MLAs.
Fernandes cancelled all official engagements and was in talks with Kavlekar and Sardinha. Apparently not satisfied with the meeting, both Congress leaders proceeded to meet Fernandes again at his residence in Loliem during lunch hours.
Fernandes confirmed that Kavlekar and Sardinha had met him twice on Wednesday.
“Some TV channels are running fake news that I am at Panaji with BJP leaders, when I am very much present in Canacona. In fact, I was among those who received late Manohar Parrikar’s Asthi-Kalash (Ashes) when it reached Loliem-Polem village on Wednesday morning.”
The Canacona MLA, however, indicated that he was not averse to leaving the Congress party, if it meant further development in Canacona.
“Considering the latest political developments, I would have to think if my workers want me to join the BJP for the sake of development of my constituency,” said Fernandes.
According to sources, the BJP is alleged to have revised their earlier offer of getting Fernandes to resign as MLA and refrain from contesting the by-poll.
BJP’s latest offer, sources said, was to offer Fernandes a ministerial berth and both former Canacona MLAs Vijay Poi Khot and Ramesh Tawadkar would have to work for his success in the bye-poll.
But this would be difficult as under this arrangements, one of 12 ministers would have to step down to accommodate Fernandes as minister.
Sources also stated that BJP had initially planned a double strike by ensuring the split of two MGP MLAs and getting Fernandes into resign as Congress MLA.
Given the hectic political developments, the Canacona MLA was busy in talks with political leaders throughout the day.
Post lunch, Fernandes left with Kavlekar and Sardinha at about 3 pm and he did not reach back home till late night.
Appointments at his office in Chaudi were also cancelled for Wednesday evening even though he has assured to meet people in his office late evening. Calls made to his mobile phone were not answered till late evening.
KEEPING THE FLOCK TOGETHER
Congress MLAs Reginald Lourenco, Wilfred D’Sa and Philip Neri Rodrigues called on Fernandes late Tuesday night to persuade the Canacona MLA not to fall prey to the BJP
By late Wednesday morning, a local TV channel began to claim that Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes was likely to join BJP
This prompted other Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar and South-Goa Congress candidate Francisco Sardinha, to rush to Canacona to meet Fernandes
Sources claimed that BJP’s concerted efforts to rope in Fernandes have been to ensure that it becomes the single largest party in Goa Assembly before going to the Lok Sabha polls and three by-elections in the assembly
At present, Congress and BJP are tied with 14 legislators apiece. Getting Fernandes to resign as MLA would reduce the Congress to 13 MLAs
