Rebels in Goa BJP call for disbanding state unit

Unhappy with the induction of two Congress MLAs - Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte in BJP without proper consultation, founders of the Goa unit of the BJP have called for dissolution of the state unit.

As per reliable sources, senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, former speaker Rajendra Arlekar and former minister Dayanand Manderkar have criticised state leadership, demanding a full-time president and re-constitution of the nine-member core committee.

It is important to note here that all three senior BJP leaders are part of the core committee, but they were not taken into confidence before the induction of the Congress defectors, told an observer to the National Herald.

According to the observer, Parsekar and Arlekar have demanded Vinay Tendulkar’s resignation from the post of the president also, citing “one person, one post” formula.

However, their demand could not yield any result as Vinay Tendulkar is still holding  the post of the Goa BJP president, besides being a member of the Rajya Sabha from Goa.

Demanding a new president in place of Vinay Tendulkar, the BJP rebels also targeted Vijay Puranik, who is the state general secretary (organisation).

According to the reports, the BJP rebels have blamed state leadership for “betraying local BJP workers.”

Analysts believe that the rebellion by three three most senior leaders in Goa BJP is a sign of ongoing power struggle between two factions – one led by CM Manohar Parrikar and the other led by the old guards.

“It shows that the internal feud has reached its climax now,” said the observer.

According to an insider, although Parrikar’s control over the party remains unshaken, the old guards feel that it is the right time bring about a change.

“That is why they have come out demanding change in the state leadership. They may take help from other parties also. if the BJP’s internal feud results in to the division of the party in coming days, it will not come as a surprise,” added the observer.

The Congress which is the main opposition party in Goa Assembly has so far maintained wait and watch policy.

The State president of the Goa Congress Committee, Girish Chodankar opines that the internal feud of the BJP will eventually lead in to the collapse of the Parrikar government.

In that situation “naturally, Congress will claim to form the government in Goa,” said Chodankar.