Parulekar swears by party discipline, ready for comeback

MAPUSAr rParulekar’s enterprise, which goes by the trade name of Amrekar Traders, deals with cement & steel and is the main distributor of Motul Lubricants in Goa. rWhen this reporter met the former minister at his Porvorim office, he was busy on his cellphone apparently relaying some information to a dealer. rSo, is politics out of his mind? r“Not really,” says Parulekar with a gentle smile. “I have my party office in Saligao. Twice a week, I am in the party office available to my supporters and people at large,” he said. rElaborating on his party work, he said he was very much a part of the State BJP unit and whenever there were any significant events organized by the party, he was a part of the organizing team. r“I have been in the BJP for more than 20 years and my wife is the State secretary. So that way, we can never be out of politics,” he said. rThe former tourism minister said people did come to meet him and seek his help in various government related work. rHe, however, admitted that people approaching him now was far less compared to when he was a minister. rParulekar said that there was no question of him getting upset over his electoral defeat, as he never craved for power. rHe gave the credit for his rise to power to BJP. r“My party gave me a chance and I first got elected in 2007 and then again in 2012 with a thumping majority. I also became a minister. I have done it all…,” he said. rThe former tourism minister, however, can’t get over the fact that his own colleague back-stabbed him leading to his debacle in Saligao in the 2017 assembly polls. r“Michael Lobo is on record that he was the architect of my defeat and that of Dayanand Mandrekar in Siolim. Does anyone need any more evidence?” asked Parulekar, showing no sign of remorse. rThere was very little evidence to ascertain whether he had any grudge against his former colleague, but the fact that he mentioned it clearly shows that it will remain with him for some time. rThe former minister became nostalgic while listing out his achievements as the tourism minister of the State. rHe said the multi-level parking in Panaji which is the first of its kind in the State, construction of Paryatan Bhavan at Patto, Baina beach beautification, e-toilet facility on the beaches of Calangute, Baga and Colva, ropeway project, etc, were some of the key initiatives taken by the tourism department with him at the helm. r“I received three awards as the tourism minister of the State. I think that’s quite an achievement,” Parulekar said patting his own back. rOn his future prospects, Parulekar said he was bound by party discipline and believed in the decision of the party. r“I am a party worker. Whenever my party calls, I am always there. The final choice will be of the party. If called, I am ever ready,” he said, clearly hinting that he was very much in the game for 2022. rThose who opposed the former tourism minister alleged that he was very arrogant in his behaviour and that, power had corrupted him. r“He harassed the people of Saligao by forcefully taking over their fields for widening of the roads. People who have given land for road widening are yet to be compensated. Many who approached him said he was very rude while speaking to people,” said Bhola Sakalkar, former sarpanch of Saligao. rBut there were others who felt that the former tourism minister had done a lot for the people and Saligao constituency. “Parulekar carried out a lot of development in his constituency in Saligao and the State in general as tourism minister. In Guirim and Saligao in particular, he has done a lot of work. He has also landed jobs to the deserving,” said Fondu Naik, panch of Guirim.