the goan I network
MARGAO
The BJP may have gone great guns in the ongoing membership drive, with a target to enroll five lakh members, but the neo-saffronites, who have just switched sides from the Congress to the BJP a month-and-half-ago, may not have to undergo the rigours of enrolling new members in the minority-dominated areas.
This concession is apparently granted to the Congress-turned-BJP MLAs, on the assumption they might find the going tough in getting their supporters embrace the ruling party since majority of the workers had never in the past supported the BJP in their life-time.
As eight out of the 10 MLAs, who joined the ruling party, hail from the Catholic community, and represent areas dominated by minorities, the BJP leadership seemed not in any hurry to get the new entrants to bring their supporters and workers into the party-fold lock, stock and barrel.
Considering the fact that their supporters may not shift allegiances with their decision, the BJP top brass has set a modest target for the new entrants, especially those hailing from minority stronghold Salcete. If the BJP has set a target of enrolling around four lakh members in Goa, each of the new neo-MLAs from the minority community, may have to bring in a modest 500 new members into the party-fold. And, if BJP sources are to be believed, the new MLAs need not worry if they find it difficult to enroll members as the party leadership, led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and State BJP president, Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar has taken cognizance of the ground reality that workers of the new MLAs may not shift their loyalties immediately.
The Goan understands that the Saxtti MLAs, Wilfred D’Sa, Clafacio Dias and WRD Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues have been set a modest target of enrolling 500 members in their respective constituencies. Take note that barring
Cuncolim constituency, the BJP has its presence only in a few pockets of Velim and Nuvem, which are not only considered Congress strongholds, but have in the past given huge and unassailable leads for the Congress candidates in the Lok Sabha polls.
As expected, the going may not be smooth for these three Saxtti MLAs to get their supporters and workers into the BJP fold. “Our supporters might have in the past extended their support to anti-Congress candidates, but they had never been part of the BJP in their political career. We are going slow and the BJP leadership have also told us there’s no hurry to get our supporters into the party”, remarked one of the MLAs.
BJP State president Vinay Tendulkar said since it’s just a month and half since the 10 MLAs embraced the party, it will take some time for them to settle down. “They have been told to enroll around 500 members each in their constituencies”, he said.
Tendulkar, however, said that the BJP leadership will descend in each of the 10 Assembly segments after Ganesh Chaturthi in a bid to integrate the existing workers and the supporters of the MLAs who have joined the ruling party. “The BJP already had its presence in these 10 Assembly constituencies before the entry of the Congress MLAs. BJP leaders will go to these constituencies for a joint meeting between our existing members and the supporters of the new MLAs for better coordination at the constituency level”, Tendulkar added.
Saffron party feels Congress-turned-BJP MLAs may find the going tough in getting supporters to embrace the ruling party since majority of workers had never supported BJP in their life-time
Eight of 10 MLAs who joined the ruling party hail from Catholic community and represent areas dominated by minorities
BJP top brass has set modest target for new entrants, especially those from Salcete
Each neo-MLA from the minority community may have to bring in 500 new members into party-fold
Party insiders feel new MLAs need not worry if they find it difficult to enroll members
BJP bigwigs have taken cognizance of ground reality that workers of new MLAs may not shift loyalties immediately
