the goan I network
MARGAO
Factionalism in the Margao unit of the BJP came out in the open on Friday with newly-elected Margao mandal president Rupesh Mahatme and general secretary Ketan Kurtarkar putting in their papers from their posts, preferring to work for the party as workers.
BJP State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade, who was engaged in a fire fighting mission after the duo, both councillors of Margao Municipal Council, sent their letters, tried to downplay the episode. He even tried to tell the media that his office has not received the resignations from the Rupesh-Ketan duo, while confirming that he did call up Mahatme with a plea not to take any decision hastily.
Even since the exit of Digambar Kamat from the BJP in 2005 to embrace the Congress party, the Margao unit of the BJP was hit by factionalism between the Rupesh and Sharmad Raiturkar’s factions. So much so that Rupesh had refused to work for Sharmad Raiturkar in the 2007 Assembly election, prompting the party leadership to entrust the party work to Rupesh in neighbouring Fatorda.
In the 2017 Assembly election when Sharmad unsuccessfully contested against Digambar again in Margao, allegations were made in party quarters that members of the Rupesh faction, including members of the Margao Mandal, did not wholeheartedly work for the party candidate.
Against the backdrop of intense factionalism, the election of Rupesh Mahatme as the Margao mandal president had assumed significance, leaving many a political observer to wonder whether the party leadership has brought the two factions together.
A week ago, BJP leaders comprising Sharmad Raiturkar, Naveen Raikar and Sunil Naik had launched an attack on the Margao MLA at a mandal media briefing attended by president Rupesh Mahatme. Earlier this week, a group of party leaders from Margao led by Sharmad had called on PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar to request him to expedite work on the Comba roads before the Zambaulim Gulal, raising eyebrows over the absence of both Rupesh and Ketan in the delegation.
When The Goan called up Rupesh over the resignation issue, he confirmed that he and Ketan has sent their resignations to the party leadership, saying they will work for the party as ordinary members.
Sharmad, on the other hand, feigned ignorance about the resignation of the Mandal president Rupesh, saying he has come to know of the development through the media. “I do not know why the duo has sent in their resignations. I had no problem with the election of Rupesh as the Mandal president”, he said when asked whether the duo’s resignation have anything to do with the factionalism in the party.
Meanwhile, Tanavade told The Goan that matters will be sorted out with Rupesh, saying that the latter is a senior member of the party. “I have spoken to Rupesh. They have not resigned from their posts.
Matters will be sorted out,” Tanavade added.
