Rane must have learned it the hard way that “this is not Congress” wherein you just give your resignation and move out or threaten to resign – this is the BJP, where the top leaders decide, and the MLAs and MPs have to strictly follow their decision.
Amit Shah must have spoken to Rane during the meeting in just two lines “Aap BJP ko disturb karna chahte ho? Jab aapka time aayega, tab aap CM banoge” (Do you want to disturb the BJP in Goa? (When your time comes, you will become the CM) and the meeting would have ended.
But the matter does not end there; Vishwajit may not be the only leader who has been rattled by BJP’s recent decisions on CM and alliances; there are others too, and the last late-night meeting proves that Sawant has taken guard in his second innings on a pitch, where the ball is turning square.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
After a long wait of about 12 days, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finally decided to keep Dr Pramod Sawant as the Goa Chief Minister, a decision much on the expected lines.
His competitor, Vishwajit Rane, did wag his tail till the end, but finally, he had to withdraw his candidature and propose the name of Sawant as the chief minister. That must have been like an “insult to injury”.
Rane must have learned it the hard way that “this is not Congress” wherein you just give your resignation and move out or threaten to resign – this is the BJP, where the top leaders decide, and the MLAs and MPs have to strictly follow their decision.
Amit Shah must have spoken to Rane during the meeting in just two lines “Aap BJP ko disturb karna chahte ho? Jab aapka time aayega, tab aap CM banoge” (Do you want to disturb the BJP in Goa? (When your time comes, you will become the CM) and the meeting would have ended.
But the matter does not end there; Vishwajit may not be the only leader who has been rattled by BJP’s recent decisions on CM and alliances; there are others too, and the last late-night meeting proves that Sawant has taken guard in his second innings on a pitch, where the ball is turning square.
Yes, unlike the past tenure, Vishwajit is not single and has his wife for the support this time, so if he leaves, BJP loses two seats. Also, going by his past records, Vishwajit is not the one who would take insults lying down. So he is waiting for the slightest opportunity to pounce on like an injured “lion”.
According to o sources, Vishwwajit would not be given the Health portfolio this time due to the shame Goa had to face – scams in COVID19 purchases, mismanagement of COVID19 pandemic etc. If that happens, we may soon see Vishwajit in the form of a loose cannon.
Secondly, Babush Monseratte – known to be another jumping jack of Goan politics, he has changed the parties as per his whims and fancies and when he finds that his things are not working out.
Babush is already hurt or upset with the BJP as the core workers did not support him in the Panaji elections, and as such, his margin of victory was reduced to just 700. Soon after the counting, he clarified his sentiments to the party leaders. Another issue that Babush is upset with is the BJP decision to take MGP support. Babush is in no mood, and he has been clear on that aspect.
The third challenge for Sawant would be Ravi Naik, a Bahujan leader and former chief minister of Goa, making no bones of his resentment of BJP taking support of Sudin Dhavalikar – his bête noire. Along with Ravi, Govind Gaude, Nilkanth Halarnkar, Govind Gaude all seem to be upset as they feel that if Dhavalikar is given a cabinet berth, he will take plum portfolios like Transport and PWD.
So just to conclude, Sawant will have a tough task to control these guys in this “urrakkkk” season.