the goan I network
MARGAO
That the TCP Minister accompanied the Chief Minister to various places in Fatorda, including Sonsodo and the SAG ground outside the Nehru stadium is understandable given that Sardesai is now BJP’s alliance partner and is considered responsible for the return of Manohar Parrikar back in the saddle. What, however, is surprising is the fact that the BJP cadre, which normally swarm around party leaders and minister descending in the constituency as witnessed over the years, were totally conspicuous by their absence. Neither Damu Naik nor the Fatorda block president Arun Faldesai were present around when Parrikar moved around the constituency -- right from Sonsodo to the SAG ground and then to the wholesale fish market. Other BJP leaders, who normally make it a point to welcome the State party leaders to the constituency, too were conspicuous by their absence.
On the other hand, Sardesai’s vocal supporters and Fatorda Forward councillors were much present in strength, making one wonder.
The Goan could not contact Damu Naik to shed light on the development, as doubts have been raised in political circles whether the Chief Minister had informed Damu as well as the party rank and file ahead of his visit to Fatorda. For, it is customary and a norm in the BJP organisation to keep the party rank and file at the constituency level informed of visits by the party leaders, including visits by Chief Ministers or Ministers.
Sources say that many a prominent party workers may have stayed away during the Chief Minister’s visit to Sonsodo and other places for the simple reason that they had fought a bitter political battle against arch political rival, Vijai Sardesai, who now occupies a prominent place in the Parrikar-led government.
Another BJP leader from Fatorda, however, felt differently. He had no objection if the Chief Minister has accompanied Sardesai to Fatorda for the simple reasons that many a site visited by Parrikar finds a mention in the party election manifesto. “Is it not a fact that the party had promised to tackle the Sonsodo dump head on if elected to power. Is it not a fact that Parrikar himself had promised to rid the festering eyesore at Sonsodo within three months. These are all issues which were taken up by the party in the election manifesto,” he observed.
This is not the first time that Parrikar and Sardesai had moved together on the ground at Fatorda. On the eve of the Lusofonia Games three years ago, Parrikar as Chief Minister and Sardesai, the then opposition MLA, had held joint inspections in Fatorda, before they parted ways to turn bitter political enemies.
Local political watchers wonder what sort of understanding Parrikar has reached with Sardesai before the Fatorda MLA and his two Goa Forward party MLAs joined hands to form the BJP-led government post-March 11 election results.
