MARGAO
Bharatiya Janata Party's ongoing booth Vistarak Yojana started on an embarrassing note in Margao constituency on Saturday, with a party worker pointing accusing fingers at a section of local party leaders for sabotaging the electoral prospects of party candidate Sharmad Raiturcar in the 2017 Assembly election, indicating that the ruling party is a house divided in the commercial capital.
In fact, party worker Andrew Sequeira later demanded that the party top brass replace the block president Subodh Govek
Bharatiya Janata Party's ongoing booth Vistarak Yojana started on an embarrassing note in Margao constituency on Saturday, with a party worker pointing accusing fingers at a section of local party leaders for sabotaging the electoral prospects of party candidate Sharmad Raiturcar in the 2017 Assembly election, indicating that the ruling party is a house divided in the commercial capital.
In fact, party worker Andrew Sequeira later demanded that the party top brass replace the block president Subodh Govek
ar and other local party leaders if the party hopes to regain the Margao seat in the next election. He also sought to know why South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar did not come to Margao to campaign for Sharmad's candidature in the Assembly election.
Andrew conveyed his sentiments to BJP leader Damu Naik and others when they descended at his residence on Saturday evening as part of the booth Vistarak Yojana. Block president Subodh Govekar, Sharmad Raiturcar and other workers were part of the delegation that visited Andrew's house.
Andrew point blank told Damu that the party leaders should find out the local leaders who had sabotaged Sharmad's chances of winning the seat. "We have evidence to prove that some local leaders told the voters to cast their vote in favour of Digambar Kamat. I can give the names of 10 such local leaders, who worked for the Congress," he said, leaving Damu and the party workers red faced and embarrassed.
That's not all. Andrew drew Damu's attention to the fact that some of the local leaders did not work for Succorina Fernandes in the Municipal by-poll, reminding that one of the local leaders Rupesh Mahatme had even gone to the extent of saying that Succorina's candidature was not the right choice since she belonged to the minority
community.
An embarrassed Damu Naik tried to pacify Andrew and later downplayed the episode during his media briefing. "The Booth Vistarak yojana is aimed at getting feedback from the grassroots workers. Based on the feedback, the party will take corrective steps," remarked Damu, who has been appointed as coordinator for Margao.
Asked to react to Andrew's outbursts against certain party leaders for sabotaging his electoral prospects, Sharmad said, "There may be difference of opinion in a big organization such as the BJP. We have to take everyone together."
Andrew conveyed his sentiments to BJP leader Damu Naik and others when they descended at his residence on Saturday evening as part of the booth Vistarak Yojana. Block president Subodh Govekar, Sharmad Raiturcar and other workers were part of the delegation that visited Andrew's house.
Andrew point blank told Damu that the party leaders should find out the local leaders who had sabotaged Sharmad's chances of winning the seat. "We have evidence to prove that some local leaders told the voters to cast their vote in favour of Digambar Kamat. I can give the names of 10 such local leaders, who worked for the Congress," he said, leaving Damu and the party workers red faced and embarrassed.
That's not all. Andrew drew Damu's attention to the fact that some of the local leaders did not work for Succorina Fernandes in the Municipal by-poll, reminding that one of the local leaders Rupesh Mahatme had even gone to the extent of saying that Succorina's candidature was not the right choice since she belonged to the minority
community.
An embarrassed Damu Naik tried to pacify Andrew and later downplayed the episode during his media briefing. "The Booth Vistarak yojana is aimed at getting feedback from the grassroots workers. Based on the feedback, the party will take corrective steps," remarked Damu, who has been appointed as coordinator for Margao.
Asked to react to Andrew's outbursts against certain party leaders for sabotaging his electoral prospects, Sharmad said, "There may be difference of opinion in a big organization such as the BJP. We have to take everyone together."
