Courtesy Bicholim-Net on Googlegroups. Set-back for congress at Pale polls
BICHOLIM NOV 2: The Congress has got a major set-back at the Pale by- polls with the schedule tribes from the constituency warning the congress party to decide on the stand they would take to nominate their representative, Pandurang Madkaikar in the Assembly or they would be forced to support Bharatiya Janata Party. The warning was given by the schedule tribe community from Pale today at a public meeting held at Sateri Hall Surla Pale. The meeting was attended by about thousand schedule tribe people from the Pale constituency. The community demanded that Kumbharjuwa MLA, Pandurang Madkaikar who is the lone ST representative in the state be given cabinet berth. "We are giving the government a deadline and if the government does not decide to give Madkaikar the cabinet berth by November 15 we would not support the congress in the Pale constituency" Schedule Tribe leader, Kashinath Jalmi warned. The warning comes in backdrop of the Pale by-polls and it might be a major jolt for the congress if they ignore it. Eventhough Bhandari and Maratha samaj constitutes majoriy in Pale constituency the strength of the Schedule Tribes cannot be ignored. There are about 4000 voters from the ST community and if these votes are diverted to the BJP it would certainly make a major difference. It may be recalled that the Kumbharjuwa MLA, Pandurang Madkaikar who was elected on the Congress ticket earlier was thrown out of the cabinet leading to a widespread protest from the community. Several demands were made so that Madkaikar would get a cabinet berth but the congress authorities did not pay hid to the pleas of the community. " It is high time that the government should rethink about the issue else they might loose the Pale seat because of their own fault" Jalmi told the gathering. "We would not only restrict this agitation within the state but also take the issue to the national level with the help of net." "We would do a planned anti Congress porpoganda and through the internet we would also seek the support at the national level" Jalmi disclosed. Speaking on the occasion Kumbharjuwa MLA, Pandurang Madkaikar told that he would abide by the deadline and asked the Congress to think over the issue. "Congress government is corrupt and i am not at all happy with the functioning i feel that BJP is far better than the congress." the MLA who has tested all the three parties including MGP, BJP and the Congress told his community. "Next time even if i am given the candidature by the congress i would not contest for the party" Madkaikar told. A villager, Kanta Gawde charged the Congress for supressing the community. "Madkaikar was the lone minister of the community and they took away the ministery just to serve their own purpose" Gawde claimed he also urged the community members to vote for BJP if the demands are not met. Anton Gaonkar also spoke on the occasion.
