Narendra Sawaikar
As part of the preparations for the 1999 Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Goa Unit decided to hold a Sampark Yatra. Shri Shripad Naik led the Yatra for the election that was to be held on the basis of strength of only 4 MLAs.
In order to determine the route of the yatra from Pernem to Canacona, some prominent karyakartas traveled along the route.
During his journey, Shripadbhau’s mother passed away but his brother was quick to make the time to complete the yatra. For that election, BJP’s strength increased from 4 to 10. Unfortunately, Shripadbhau lost that election but destiny had something different in mind and he won the Lok Sabha mid-term elections from North Goa. The veteran leader has maintained that tradition till date.
In 2012, a similar yatra was organized under the leadership of late Shri Manohar Parrikar. This time the situation was a bit different as BJP Goa was in the ruling from 2000 to 2005 after which it was the main Opposition party till 2012. Parrikarji was the Chief Minister and the then the Leader of the Opposition, respectively.
It was against this background that the Yatra was held. All through his journey, late Parrikarji would spend nights at the party workers’ house. In a preparatory meeting before the yatra took off, he had said that his meal should be simple, precisely chappati and puri-bhaji at night. He even suggested that red spinach (Tambdi Bhaji) will suffice. It so happened that everyone thought that Bhai, as he was fondly called, liked Tambdi Bhaji and the menu always had this vegetable. There was a time that whenever Tambdi Bhaji was spoken about, Bhai’s face would turn red.
In this 2012 election, the strength of BJP increased from 14 to 21 seats. The party came to power with an absolute majority.
At present, for the ensuing 2022 Assembly elections Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant has already begun touring various constituencies.
State President Shri Sadanand Tanavade is also touring the constituencies with an emphasis on organizational work.
Certainly, CM’s tour is of a political nature but this is different from the previous two journeys. BJP Goa has been in power for one decade, forming government two consecutive times. After the demise of Bhai in 2019, Dr Sawant was made his successor. Since, Corona pandemic hit the world hard, Dr Sawant could not work properly for a year and a half. While he he efficiently handled the situation, the government also had to deal with the disaster caused by the Tauktae storm. The State faced such a cyclone for the first time since 40 years.
Now as elections are an inescapable part of politics, CM Dr Sawant is once again on a tour to form BJP government in Goa. Dr Sawant has been only two and a half years old as the CM but he is working hard for the victory of the party. He said that he was committed to the development of every sector including youth, women, senior citizens, farmers, workers, students and the entire society at large. He has appealed the people of Goa to bless the BJP again. The CM is optimistic that people will positively respond to this call.
Although we have seen three yatras and three leaders, there is only one focus – development. Development of Goa, Goans and of the entire country!