AERIAL VIEW
In Goa’s 15-odd lakh population, 54 p.c people are from Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and amongst that caste the highest in the Bhandari Samaj.
Being in OBC provides Bhandari samaj with specific rights under India’s affirmative action scheme, such as reservation in government employment and admission to professional colleges etc.
However, despite being the majority in the State, the community has failed to get a Bhandari Chief Minister for a full term.
Ponda MLA Ravi Naik has been the only chief minister from the community who has served for just 27 months. Shocking, isn’t it?
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
The Aam Aadmi Party may have not got any big name to resign and join the party, but it has taken a giant leap in the State, ahead of the forthcoming Assembly poll, with just one move.
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal did something that no Goa Chief Ministers could do for ages.
He became the first chief minister to have ever visited the office of the Goa Bhandari Samari Samaj, the community with the largest vote bank in the State.
Ashok Naik, the president of Goamantak Bhandari Samaj welcomed Kejriwal on Sunday in the presence of vice president Devanand Naik, general secretary Fakru Panjikar, secretary Krishnakant Govekar, executive members Eknath Tari and Mangaldas Naik, and AAP leaders.
Ashok Naik president of Goamantak Bhandari Samaj said, “Goa is the land of lord Parashurama. On this land, the Gomantak Bhandari Samaj was established in the city of Panaji in 1962. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had come to meet the people of the Bhandari community; it is a matter of pride for us. This is the first time that the Chief Minister of Delhi has come to meet the people of Gomantak Bhandari community”.
He further said, “Arvind Kejriwal’s performance in Delhi is commendable, and we hope that if he is elected in Goa, Goa will develop as fast as Delhi. We believe that his party will work hard to bring change in Goa’s infrastructure, education and health sector. He is the man of words and will fulfil all the promises he has made to Goans,” Naik said.
In Goa’s 15-odd lakh population, 54 p.c people are from Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and amongst that caste the highest in the Bhandari Samaj.
Being in OBC provides Bhandari samaj with specific rights under India’s affirmative action scheme, such as reservation in government employment and admission to professional colleges etc.
However, despite being the majority in the State, the community has failed to get a Bhandari Chief Minister for a full term.
Ponda MLA Ravi Naik has been the only chief minister from the community who has served for just 27 months. Shocking, isn’t it?
But that has been so in Goa; people have never voted or elected a person based on his caste. Of course, they do vote based on parties.
What Kejriwal did yesterday with his visit is that he has shown concern for the development of the community in the State.
He has also assured them of giving reservations within the reservation for Bhandari’s in Goa, which has been their main demand of late.
Of course, it is still too early to say whether the entire Bhandari community would vote in one voice for Aam Aadmi Party.
Several other parties are also trying to woo the Bhandari community with many announcements.
Goa has several Bhandari Samaj MLAs right now, Jayesh Salgaocar, Vinod Palyekar, Ravi Naik, Pandurang Madkaikar, etc.
Despite this, the demands of the community remain unheard.
With elections around the corner, it would be further interesting to see how the Bhandari community responds to Kejriwal’s friend request.
Will they vote for a change, or will their votes be divided by the same old politicians?
