the goan I network
SANGUEM
Differences between Rajya Sabha MP and BJP leader Vinay Tendulkar and former Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai over the involvement of Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar’s wife, Savitri, in Sanguem constituency snowballed into a major confrontation between the two leaders, forcing the State BJP leaders to swing into action to defuse the tension.
According to reports, the issue had cropped up during Carnival celebrations in Sanguem, which was organized by Vision Sanguem, a group initiated and funded by Savitri Kavlekar.
Speaking on the occasion, Tendulkar was accused of making certain personal remarks against Phaldessai.
Tendulkar had also reportedly claimed the party had not finalised Phaldessai as the party candidate for the next assembly elections, while he was also accused of claiming that Phaldessai was a novice and did not have much maturity in politics.
Phaldessai, a senior BJP leader in Sanguem, was also furious with Tendulkar’s comments, while his supporters were also upset and decided to react to his statements against Phaldessai.
A large number of Phaldessai’s supporters then decided to convene a meeting at Sanguem, which was scheduled to be held on Saturday.
But as the meeting would jeopardise the party’s image and fearing there would be war of words and severe allegations against Tendulkar, the party leaders urged Phaldessai and his supporters not to go ahead with the meeting on Saturday.
Instead, they invited the warring party leaders from Sanguem for a meeting in Panaji to be chaired by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
When contacted, Phaldessai confirmed that the meeting took place in Panaji and said it was chaired by the chief minister and he was present at the meeting along with Power Minister Nilesh Cabral, BJP State President Sadanand Tanavde and others.
“The chief minister assured me and my supporters to initiate necessary action against Tendulkar for his comments,” said Phaldessai.
“It was also brought to fore at the meeting that henceforth Savitri Kavlekar would not convene any programme in Sanguem under the party banner and if programmes are to be organised, they would be held and organised by me and Navnath Naik.”
“BJP party leaders also assured to call Savitri Kavlekar and Deputy Chief Minister Babu Kavlekar very shortly and convey to them the decision taken by the party leadership in the best interest of the party and to avoid any tussle among the party leaders in Sanguem constituency,” Phaldessai added.
