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Pale poll: A BJP plot that backfired HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, NOV 30 Pale by-poll result has turned out to be a major setback for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the State even as the party is likely to do introspection over the functioning of the party and more so of the alliances of convenience its top leaders resort to. In particular, the defeat of party nominee Dr Pramod Sawant is seen as loss of face for opposition leader Manohar Parrikar within the party organization. According to sources, the party had virtually decided to renominate Dr Suresh Amonkar for the Pale by-poll. Party president Shripad Naik and top office-bearers had also given their approval to Dr Amonkar's candidature. However, some days before the filing of nomination, the party did a turnaround in favour of Dr Sawant apparently at the initiative of Parrikar. Sources disclosed that this apparently was a strategy to keep Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane on their side by exploiting the factionalism in the ruling group. Besides, there were talks of a bigger game plan to be put in place after the by-poll. Dr Sawant's name was cleared on the pretext that voters prefer a new face and that the workers were not happy with Dr Amonkar who, however, was kept in the dark of the decision. After Herald broke the news that Dr Sawant was the candidate, supporters of Dr Amonkar rushed to the party office. Pravin Blaggan, former sarpanch of Sanquelim said the supporters were not treated well at all by Parrikar when they questioned as to why the former health minister who was initially assured of the nomination, was denied the ticket. Parrikar reportedly said that it was the BJP's central election committee's decision However as discussions continued, Blaggan said he was humiliated and the other supporters who had gone with him decided to revolt. BJP president who was in the office tried to pacify the agitated workers but his plea was rejected by the workers saying that their revolt is against Parrikar's autocratic functioning and not against him (Shripad Naik). The incident, sources say, provoked them to prevail upon Dr Amonkar to contest. It's another matter that as soon as the Congress leadership came to know of the developments, they grabbed the opportunity to take it to the logical conclusion! A worker said the brainy leaders of BJP got a taste of their own medicine who over the years for every election they used to convince rebels to contest as independent or on some other labels to fight the Congress. A churning has begun in the BJP. As is the tradition in the BJP, at least in Goa, there is no public criticism of functioning in the party. But keeping ears to the ground, one could hear leaders talking in hush hush tones. CONSTITUENCIES: Some leaders including from south are of the view that because of pragmatic policies of Parrikar and 'match-fixing' tactics adopted in a bid to get back to power, the party may not be able to wrest the Pale seat from the Congress unless Dr Amonkar comes back to the party fold. It not only lost the seat but lost, at least temporarily, its important leader – former party president – and of course many workers who helped Dr Amonkar to get more than 3600 votes. As analysts say they are not all his personal votes, but many who are anti-Congress voted for Dr Amonkar to protest against the autocratic style of functioning in the BJP. Nearly 13 BJP legislators were camping in Pale for two weeks, besides Mahila and youth wings. But all their efforts came to a naught as the tirade launched against Dr Amonkar and leaders shying away from criticizing Vishwajeet, didn't go well with the electorate. Amonkar's campaign managers lashed out at Parrikar for not exposing Babush and Vishwajeet of scams he once raised. WEAKENING BASE: The leaders also feel that there are certain seats, the BJP will not be able to win for quite some time, thanks to the political compromises and combinations and permutations their top leaders have indulged in. For example, Cumbarjua, Madkai and Taleigao, are three seats which are in the hands of BJP's one-time allies and currently are represented by close allies of Parrikar – Pandurang Madkaikar, Sudin Dhavlikar and Babush Monserrate respectively. Many one-time BJP workers are now with these three politicians leading to weakening of the party base in the constituencies. Madkai was in 1994-1999 represented by Shripad Naik. With its "wholehearted support" to Matanhy Saldanha, many BJP workers have switched over to the former tourism minister in the Parrikar government, There are a few more seats the BJP may have to struggle to win. These include Poriem where BJP had twice given a good fight against Pratapsing Rane. Similarly, it is feared that Priol, Valpoi, and Mormugao may go in the same direction. According to sources, the party will be introspecting into the way in which the party functions particularly the alliances being made with certain politicians for temporary benefits. They however, feel that if Shripad Naik doesn't take a pro-active role, then the hegemony of Parrikar is bound to succeed. Whether there will be change or no change, Pale by-poll seems to have woken up the BJP organization to the games of politics of convenience and compromises, their top leaders indulge in for short-term gains.