AGNELO PEREIRA
MAPUSA
A day after Mapusa MLA, Francis D’Souza was dropped from the cabinet, the writing was on the wall for the senior-most legislator of BJP, whose appeal appears to be fading even among his councillors.
In what appears to be a clear PR exercise to show their allegiance to the Mapusa MLA, the 17 councillors of the ruling group held a press conference in the chairperson’s cabin, where some councillors expressed disappointment on his removal but most were unconvincing.
It was as clear as day that the councillors were doing a balancing act between their leader and the party.
Leading the charge was MMC Chairperson Ryan Braganza, who said that the move to drop Francis as a minister came as a shock to everyone.
“We have lost the advantage to approach a minister who was from our backyard. I hope the government will induct him as a minister once he recovers,” Braganza said.
To a pointed question, the chairperson said that proximity mattered and in place of Francis, if one of the neighbouring MLAs form Aldona or Calangute were elevated to a minister then too it would have been helpful.
Senior councillor and former chairperson, Sandip Falari who is perceived to be closest to Francis, was at his diplomatic best. He first congratulated the two new ministers and stressed that he was only making observations and would not like to question the wisdom of the party.
“Francis had said his treatment was ending on October 8 and he would be back in Goa by October 15. I think they (the party) should have waited for some time.”
“Also, both ministers dropped are from North Goa and those appointed new are from South, which indicates some imbalance. Thirdly, for the first time, there is no BJP minister in Bardez and this will leave a question among the karyakatas on whom to approach,” said Falari.
Former chairperson, Rohan Kavlekar, also said the news came as a shock and it was a setback for the people and karyakatas of Bardez.
“I hope the party will take the MLA’s contribution into account and give him his due recognition by accommodating him in the party,” Kavlekar said.
Another former chairperson, Sudhir Kandolkar informed that he had met BJP President, Vinay Tendulkar who has assured to meet all the councillors to thrash out any concerns on the development of
Mapusa.
It was apparent the BJP’s hawkish approach was playing behind the minds of the councillors and they did not want to rub the party on the wrong side.
It is also pertinent to point out that all the four senior councillors fancy their chances as the next probable BJP candidate for Mapusa.
Incidentally, there was not a peep from the Mapusa BJP mandal on the unceremonious removal of the Mapusa MLA.
