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What it means for BJP in Goa BY HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MAY 3 — In the death of Pramod Mahajan, BJP in Goa has suffered a major loss as he was a guiding force and a master strategist for not only the rise of the party but he charted the course for it to come to power. Right from 1989, Mahajan played a pivotal role in the growth of the BJP in Goa and also in grooming leaders in the party while he was the in-charge of Goa desk. BJP had well thought-out strategies at every stage of political happenings. In all the developments, Mahajan's role is acknowledged by its Goa unit's Vice President and media in-charge Prof Subhash Salkar who said he (Mahajan) was the mastermind behind all major strategies since 1989. It is thanks to Mahajan that BJP is a force to reckon with in Goa from 4 seats in 1994 to 17 in the present term, he said. Mahajan also played a crucial role of Big Brother in the rise in political careers of Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar as well as North Goa MP Shripad Naik. Acknowledging this, Parrikar who benefited the most said, "the death of Mahajan is a personal loss to me as well as the BJP party." In late 1980s, it was Mahajan who helped in the power shift from Jana Sangh-affiliated leaders like G Y Bhandare, Kashinath Arlekar, Madhav Dhond to young leaders like Shripad Naik who was then installed party president. However, when Shripad failed to retain his assembly seat in 1999, Mahajan promoted Parrikar who since then continues to head the legislature wing. Being an astute organiser, Mahajan could read the talents of the party workers many of whom were sent for training in Mumbai. As a trouble-shooter, he could easily resolve internal bickering within the party ranks. Managing human resources was his forte and with his convincing power he had maintained strict intra-party discipline in Goa. Over the years all the major decisions – right from initially supporting then deputy chief minister Wilfred de Souza to pull down the Rane government in July 1998 to declining support to Dr Willy to regain power in February 1999 which led to imposition of President's Rule, then from tactically installing Francisco Sardinha-led government in November 1999 only to dump Sardinha and company in less than a year to have its own Parrikar-headed government in October 2000 and to go for dissolution of the Goa assembly pre-empting split in the party in less than two years, alliances with Mickky Pacheco, Babush Monserrate and others etc were all approved by none other than Mahajan. No wonder, BJP leaders here are immensely feeling the loss. Party chief Rajendra Arlekar paid glowing tributes to Mahajan in the party headquarters here. , which had a crest-fallen look. Meanwhile, most of the leaders are leaving by air for Mumbai on Thursday to pay their last respects to the departed leader. _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list ([email protected])
