MAPUSA
Until you are part of the “big BJP family” you can have the cake and eat it too but the moment you are out of it, you had it.
The BJP which tolerated all the tantrums thrown by its leader Michael Lobo till yesterday went all out to “expose” him soon after he quit the party on Monday.
BJP Youth President Sameer Mandrekar alleged that Lobo is mired in a lot of illegal activities along the coastal belt and will expose him at the right time.
“We have all the data of how many hills, NDZ and CRZ areas have been converted by him (Michael Lobo). His hotels have come up violating CRZ norms while buildings have been constructed in parking areas. We will reveal all such illegal activities at an opportune time,” alleged Mandrekar, while addressing a media conference in Mapusa.
He said Lobo was demanding seven tickets in Bardez but later settled for two clearly showing the leader’s selfish interest.
He further disclosed that in 2017, it was Lobo who was responsible for BJP losing the seats of Siolim and Saligao only because he wanted to be a minister in the cabinet.
“He knew if both the BJP candidates who were ministers in the previous government got elected then they would automatically qualify to be ministers and he would not stand a chance,” revealed Mandrekar, whose father Dayanand Mandrekar is vying for the BJP ticket in Siolim this time too.
He also stated that a lot of karyakartas from Calangute left the party in disgust because of the ill-treatment meted to them.
According to the BJP youth president, most of the land mass in Calangute was over and Lobo was now eyeing land/hills in Anjuna/ Siolim.
Joining the chorus, Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza said Lobo stayed on till the last minute with the sole intention of enjoying all the perks of the government.
“He took maximum benefit of the government. If he knew that the BJP has so many flaws he should have resigned six months or two years ago. Just because things are not going his way he quit,” D’Souza said.
He said he (Lobo) was involved in anti-party activities all the time and the party gave him a long rope because he was part of the family.
“He interfered in the affairs of Mapusa on several occasions and also tried to interfere in the Mapusa Municipal Council elections but failed,” the Mapusa MLA said.
