------------------------------------------------------- CONVENTION OF THE GOAN DIASPORA FROM GOA INTO THE WORLD Lisbon, Portugal June 15-17, 2007 Details at: http://www.goacom.org/casa-de-goa/noticias.html -------------------------------------------------------
Is Parrikar responsible for BJP's loss in Margao? By Nilesh Khandeparkar [EMAIL PROTECTED] Weekender, June 10, 2007 PANJIM: Now that the dust of the elections has settled and introspection set in, it seems that the BJP top brass consistently ignored danger signals emanating from Margao. With the passage of time, these problems piled up and the net result was that the BJP's sworn rival Digamber Kamat could laugh his way to victory in Goa's commercial capital. So, what went wrong? And what were these danger signals? And, more importantly, is the BJP alone to be blamed for losing Margao? The story starts with the entry of Sharmad Raiturkar in the Margao electoral arena in the year 2005. He is touted to be the blue-eyed boy of BJP supremo Manohar Parrikar who pulled him out of obscurity -- Sharmad was a Mumbai-based cinematographer -- and pitchforked him against the Margao strong-man Digamber Kamat. That was at the height of the anti-Digamber wave widely prevalent in Margao during the by-elections held in the year 2005. Much as the BJP would like others to believe that Sharmad was the RSS choice, facts indicate that it did not play a major role as is being portrayed to the masses. Sharmad suddenly found himself in the limelight. But, reliable sources in the BJP -- miffed over the importance given to Sharmad -- categorically stated off the record that the first choice to contest the Margao seat was Margao BJP Mandal chief Navnath Khandeparkar. SURVEY REPORT Sources also indicate that the BJP leadership had commissioned the services of a Pune-based professional agency to conduct a survey to judge the prospects of Sharmad and Navnath. The Pune-based surveyors preference and conclusion was clear -- that Navnath, being a social worker and given his association with cultural organisations would be a better bet as compared to Sharmad. Parrikar thought otherwise. He rubbished the recommendations of the survey and cast his lot in favour of his blue-eyed boy Sharmad. Although Parrikar had a one-to-one meeting with Navnath to explain the unfolding situation, it only ended up alienating Navnath, who, sources say, is yet to recover from this slight, although he still works for the BJP with a "square face". All this was denied by Sharmad when GT spoke to him. "I have no idea of this Pune-based survey you are talking about and am not aware of the names you have quoted," he said. That's not all. The sudden move to cast Sharmad against the veteran Digamber Kamat raised the heckles of all BJP MLAs. They wanted a hard-core BJP loyalist Rupesh Mahatme to replace Sharmad. However, given the fear Parrikar evokes among the BJP MLAs, not one of them had the guts to raise their voice in favour of Mahatme. Sharmad again denied all this. "I am not aware of any such BJP MLAs," he remarked. SHARMAD'S TELEPHONIC CONTACT One of the reasons why Sharmad's name invited scorn among all BJP MLAs was his unfettered access to Parrikar. Sources speak how Sharmad could just pick up his mobile and speak to Parrikar -- a luxury even senior party workers, office bearers and MLAs are denied. "Parrikar has only one number and even you can contact him on this number. Apart from this, I did not have any special access to Parrikar," quipped Sharmad in defence. It seems that Sharmad had the backing of a small coterie at the state level which is fiercely loyal to Parrikar -- and this was the only point which worked in Sharmad's favour. What also invited the ire of BJP MLAs was just how Mahatme's claims were ignored over those of a rookie Sharmad. That Sharmad lost what was billed as the mother of all by-elections is history. But the seeds of a conflict were sown -- the harvest of which was reaped in the recently-concluded Assembly elections. BANNER OF REVOLT Parrikar only added fuel to the fire when he again declared Sharmad's name to contest from Margao. This time, the BJP loyalists decided enough was enough. Unable to bear the humiliation any longer and egged on by the covert support of a host of BJP MLAs. Rupesh Mahatme raised a banner of revolt. But this did not happen overnight. Reliable insiders reveal that Navnath Khandeparkar had warned Parrikar of Mahatme's impending decision and had requested Parrikar to speak to the later. This was when Parrikar had openly begun to sideline Mahatme and unabashedly courting Sharmad. Sources also say that Parrikar toured Margao along with Sharmad by keeping Mahatme completely in the dark. "I cannot give any explanation to what Parrikar does. Whenever he wants to discuss anything, he has the habit of taking the concerned person on a drive in his car. Moreover, if any BJP worker plans work schedule and invites Parrikar, he comes. You cannot blame Parrikar if some people do not want to work yet want Parrikar to visit them," said Sharmad. But, nevertheless, Navnath wanted Parrikar to console Mahatme and Navnath made his mind clear to Parrikar in this connection. Acting on Navnath's recommendations, Parrikar indeed summoned Mahatme to Panjim many times but gave evasive replies which only ended up alienating Mahatme further. And when BJP's official list of candidates was out, a furious Mahatme faxed his resignation. DEALER PARRIKAR That did the trick. A visibly shaken but an overconfident Parrikar rejected Mahatme's rejection and offered him a deal -- that on assuming power, Mahatme would be "properly rehabilitated" in lieu of his silence during the Assembly elections. It seems that Parrikar also admitted to Mahatme that the BJP's organisation in Margao would "collapse" in case Mahatme quits the party. A completely alienated but BJP loyalist Mahatme kept quiet but refused to work for the BJP in Margao. What Sharmad was left with were a handful of amateur workers who went along with him for canvassing during the elections, say sources. "The vote share of the BJP in Margao has not decreased. BJP voters do not change if any leader quits the organisation. Regarding Mahatme, I had no time to examine as to whether he campaigned or not. I was busy in my campaign," stated Sharmad. UNWINNABLE CONSTITUENCY That sent out a completely wrong message. Voters in Margao were now convinced that Sharmad had lost support among the core BJP supporters and sympathisers, not to speak of the BJP leaders as well. Parrikar got this feedback from his loyalist in the Margao unit of the BJP and read the writing on the wall. Knowing that Margao had almost fallen in the lap of his sworn rival Digamber Kamat, a fuming Parrikar toned down the election campaign in Margao and instead concentrated on other constituencies. Margao was billed as an "unwinnable constituency" in BJP circles. The net result was that Sharmad lost miserably. DEMAND FOR FRESH FACE Now, as Parrikar has led the BJP to a convincing defeat in the Assembly elections, knives are out for him, at least in Margao, and among some BJP MLAs who are clamouring for a change in leadership. They want a fresh face to take over. This demand gets louder among the BJP cadres, office bearers and BJP loyalists in Margao. Sharmad gave vague hints that there might be a section of BJP workers in Margao that are demanding Parrikar's removal from the helm of affairs. "I don't think this is happening. At least, we are not doing this," said Sharmad, which indirectly means that there are "others" who might be "doing this" (clamouring for Parrikar's removal). Sharmad however was quick to add, "Parrikar is the only person who can save Goa from the mess that Goa is in present condition." In so far as Sharmad is concerned, it seems to be the end of the road for him -- politically, at least! But he denies it. And the door of the Margao constituency seems to be firmly shut on the BJP -- for the time being, at least -- entirely due to its own folly! ------------------------------------------------------- Goanet recommends, and is proud to be associated with, 'Domnic's Goa' - A nostalgic romp through a bygone era. This book is the perfect gift for any Goan, or anyone wanting to understand Goa. Distributed locally by Broadway, near Caculo Island, Panjim & internationally by OtherIndiaBookStore.Com. For trade enquiries contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------------------------------------