PANAJI
Shrill voices of dissent have, uncharacteristically, echoed out in the open from the internal cellars of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Ponda, but the decision to be taken by its loudest and most notable dissident -- Vishwanath Dalvi -- will hinge on a promised face-to-face meeting with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
The announcement of Ritesh Naik, son of the late Ravi Naik, as the official nominee for the April 9 by-election by the party's Central Election Committee chaired by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on Thursday had immediately triggered multiple voices of dissent from the saffron party karyatakas in Ponda.
Dalvi, who is the BJP's South Goa district president and a multiple-term councillor of the Ponda Municipal Council, had himself expressed displeasure publicly over the decision.
On Friday Dalvi continued in the same vein saying he felt “injustice had been done” to him.
Dalvi told the media that he would discuss the issue at the "correct forum" and hinted at a one-on-one meeting with Sawant.
When this meeting will happen, however, Dalvi could not say given that Sawant had taken ill and was admitted to a hospital in Pune on Thursday.
Nonetheless Dalvi, known to be a Sawant-backer in the ruling party's internal hierarchy, said he was taken aback on learning of Ritesh's candidature.
He said he will consult his supporters after the leadership explains the party's perspective before taking a final call on the next course of action.
Meanwhile, BJP State president, Damodar (Damu) Naik, has asserted that the party's decision on the Ponda by-poll is "final" and nothing can change it now.
Ritesh is the younger son of Ravi Naik, a towering figure in Ponda's and the State's political realm. The April 9 by-poll was necessitated by his death in October last year.
