MARGAO
Has the ruling BJP forgotten its old trusted ally in Benaulim, Caitu Silva as the party has embraced a foe-turned-friend and incumbent NCP MLA Churchill Alemao in the changing political scenario post-2017 election?
It seemed so, going by the chain of developments, beginning with the BJP joining hands with Churchill in an apparent bid to lend stability to the Manohar Parrikar-led government after the March 11 election results pushed the ruling party way behind the Congress party. Caitu along with then Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado and ex-Velim MLA Benjamin D’Silva comprised the BJP’s troika from minority Salcete, who had stood behind the ruling dispensation through thick and thin during the last five years.
Saturday, however, saw an entirely different political picture emerging from Benaulim. The famous Dando ground, Benaulim played host to Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar and local MLA Churchill Alemao for the commissioning of the Rs 87 crore 11 KV underground cabling line “ a pet project of former Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva.
Foundation stone for the ambitious power project was laid by then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar with much fanfare at the same Dando ground on Caitu’s birthday in 2014 when the then Benaulim MLA was an alliance partner of the BJP-led Parrikar government.
Three years down the line, the underground cabling is completed and commissioned, but Caitu appears completely forgotten by the very same government during its second term. The Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar and MLA Churchill Alemao took centrestage at the commissioning of the underground line, but did not hear a word or the very mention of the ex-Benaulim MLA from the podium. Neither the Power Minister nor any of the senior Power officials deemed fit to make a mention of Caitu though they all sang praises on Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for laying the foundation stone for the project.
Sources in the know say that Electricity Executive Engineer Santosh Lolienkar did pay a visit to Caitu’s residence three days before the commissioning, but the ex-MLA was found out of station.
When contacted, Caitu recalled that Parrikar had sanctioned the Rs 87 crore underground cabling project for Benaulim constituency after he took up the project no sooner he had extended support to the BJP-led government.
“I am not bothered that the powers that be did not invite me for the function at Dando ground. But, that the Power Minister and officials did not even make a mention that the project was taken up by me sounds indeed surprising. I do not know whether the Power Minister was aware of my role in getting the project to Benaulim since he was part of the Congress party in 2014,”
Caitu said.
“I am not at all bothered that the Power Minister and the officials did not make a mention that the project had started during my tenure. But, I must compliment the people of Benaulim constituency for extending their full co-operation to make the project a success during the stipulated time,” he added.
