Former minister Pandurang Madkaikar’s bribery allegations against an unnamed minister in the Pramod Sawant-led BJP government have triggered a political storm.
PANAJI
The allegation of bribery against a ‘minister’ in the Pramod Sawant-led government has put the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a precarious position, as the serious charges came from within the saffron camp.
While the opposition launched a blistering attack on the ruling dispensation, the BJP is grappling with internal turbulence as it had to face major embarrassment ” at a time when the much-talked-about ‘jobs-for-cash’ scam was slowly dying down.
Former minister and senior party leader Pandurang Madkaikar last week claimed that ministers were 'busy counting money' and 'looting' the State and that he had himself paid Rs 15-20 lakh to a minister’s PA to get his work done.
The BJP claimed to have launched an inquiry into the entire episode; however, almost a week has passed but the party has not yet summoned or sought an explanation from Madkaikar.
State president Damodar (Damu) Naik confirmed that the party is assessing the claims independently of any government response. “The party has taken cognisance of it. I have not had a detailed discussion with him (Madkaikar). However, I will be calling him for a discussion soon. We understand that what he said is a bit serious, but before making any comment, we would like to hear from him in detail,” Naik said.
Highly placed sources informed that the issue has already reached the party's high command, which has sought a detailed report from the State unit.
Madkaikar is a four-term MLA from Cumbarjua. He has been part of political formations such as the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, Congress and BJP, and has also been part of successive governments, before he suffered a brain stroke in 2018.
In the assembly elections in 2022, the BJP dropped Madkaikar, who was recovering after the stroke and surgery, and nominated his wife, Janita, instead from his Cumbarjua constituency. She lost to Rajesh Faldessai of the Congress, who eventually joined the BJP.
The day Madkaikar made the sensational revelation on camera, intensifying the political storm, he had met BJP’s national leader BL Santosh, reportedly expressing his desire to contest in the 2027 elections and seeking a party ticket.
Sources revealed that Madkaikar did not speak to Santosh about the bribery issue. “He met Santoshji with only a single agenda that he should be allowed to contest the 2027 election. However, Santoshji did not sound positive over his demand,” sources said.
Since then, Madkaikar too has distanced himself from the media. It is rare in Goa’s political discourse for a politician to call out his own colleagues for bribery and corruption.
BJP National General Secretary Arun Singh, who was in Goa, was briefed by the State leaders about the allegations. “Singh has directed the party leaders to view the matter seriously. According to him, such allegations coming from within the party fold will hamper its prospects…,” sources said.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant - who was recently rattled by the opposition’s accusations over his involvement in the ‘jobs-for-cash’ scam - has distanced himself from the entire incident, while once telling the media to “go back to Madkaikar and ask who the minister is”.
Sources confirmed that the CM is currently not looking into the matter but wants the party to act. “Let Madkaikar name the minister, and the CM will act. Before that, the matter needs to be handled at the party level itself,” sources said.
