PANAJI
In what could be termed as a setback for the State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Sankhali constituency, its former president and health minister Suresh Amonkar is all set to join Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) on Monday.
Sankhali constituency is presently represented by BJP MLA Pramod Sawant who had won the 2012 Assembly elections with a margin of 6,918 votes defeating the Congress candidate Pratap Gauns.
Commenting on why he decided to join GSM, Dr Amonkar said, “GSM has been formed to protect Goa’s cultural identity especially the languages. I agree with their principles.”
The 64-year-old politician was the State President of BJP for two terms and held portfolios of health, labour and employment and factories and boilers.
During the 1999 Assembly elections, he won on a BJP ticket from Pale constituency with a margin of 2,351 votes defeating Congress candidate Gurudas Gawas. Again during the 2002 elections, he won from the same constituency with a margin of 1,554.
However, he was defeated by Congress MLA Gurudas Gawas during the 2007 Assembly elections with a margin of 1,591 votes.
After the death of Gawas, the constituency witnessed a bye-poll on November 26, 2008 wherein he was denied a BJP ticket and instead, Dr Pramod Sawant was given BJP candidature who lost the election by 1,534 votes. Agitated by this move, Dr Amonkar quit BJP and contested as an independent and secured 3,682 votes.
In 2011, Dr Amonkar decided to join BJP after he was approached by them to strengthen the Party in Sankhali constituency.
“During that time the issue was language and now too the issue is language. The only difference is the political parties are different”, said Dr Amonkar.
However, the Ruling MLA Dr Pramod Sawant feels that BJP will not be affected by Dr Amonkar joining GSM, even as during 2011 he has stated that BJP will become stronger in Sankhali with the return of Dr Amonkar.
“I had definitely said that his entry would strengthen BJP. But after he joined BJP, he has not done anything for strengthening the Party. Probably he had joined the Party with a different motive. The Party has been strengthened in the constituency due to the efforts of the workers. His exit will not make any difference”, said Sawant exuding confidence that no other BJP worker will join GSM along with Dr Amonkar.
GSM is strongly working towards strengthening the Party, especially in areas of Amona, Surla, Pale and Velguem. The GSM also expects a few prominent politicians in the area to join them in the days to come.
“The cadre which elected BJP is currently with us. And Dr Amonkar being from Amona area, he has a hold there and in the past he has won twice from Pale. An added advantage is his profession. Besides, he had secured over 3500 votes when he contested as an independent”, said a GSM leader.
Sources however said that the GSM is expected to damage BJP in the constituency to a very large extent, which would reduce BJP’s margin by nearly 3,000 votes.
However, though main focus of the electorate in the Constituency is employment, especially the mining truck operators and youth attracted towards government jobs.
Though nearly 400 youth have been employed with the State Government especially in the Police Department, the employment issue of many has still remained unresolved.
