the goan I network
MAPUSA
After getting scalded by former chief minister and BJP stalwart, Laxmikant Parsekar and the subsequent lull, the arrival of former deputy chief minister and Mapusa MLA, Francisco D’Souza to Goa is expected to give BJP the jitters.
All eyes are on Mapusa MLA who harbours a deep grouse against the BJP leadership after having been unceremoniously stripped of his minister’s post when he was away for treatment in US.
D’Souza, who has been the minority mascot for the saffron party, has made his hurt and anger known on more than one occasion when he was in the US. And when Mapusa MLA stepped into the Dabolim airport, on Wednesday evening, he made it very obvious that he wouldn’t lie low.
So what are the options before the five-time Mapusa MLA who is also a senior member of the BJP?
According to a senior politician, D’Souza who has been completely sidelined by the BJP has two options before him “ take on the BJP leadership head on or to resign as the member of the House. “The second option is straight forward which he may not like to exercise at least not immediately,” the senior politician said.
“The first option could be ideal at the present juncture and could cause much consternation and damage to the BJP in an election year,” he added.
He said D’Souza could go on speaking against the party at every available forum and challenge the party’s every decision to the point of embarrassing the party. “That way he provokes the party to take action against him and finally dismiss him from the party and declare him an unattached member of the House,” he said.
However, he said in the present circumstances where the number game is crucial in the event of a vote in the assembly, BJP may not take that action. The BJP will also be wary of the fact that Mapusa MLA could gang up with former chief minister, Laxmikant Parsekar and other disgruntled party leaders damaging party’s prospects during the parliament election.
Former speaker and ex-MLA of Mapusa, Surendra Sirsat said that D’Souza’s anger was palpable and to an extent justified too. He said BJP may try to win him over by making him in-charge of some corporation. The former speaker, however, agreed that taking charge of corporation will be a demotion for a senior party-man who was once Deputy CM of Goa.
A senior BJP leader from Bardez informed that the party was watching the movements of their leaders and would intervene only if needed.
