BJP woes in Goa worsen after Gadkari visit Indo-Asian News Service Panaji, February 07, 2012
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari's recent two-day visit to Goa appears to have done more damage than good to the party's image here, ahead of the March 3 assembly election. When Gadkari flew down to Goa Feb 4, one of his major agendas was to cap the aggravating feud between two party heavyweights - North Goa MP Shripad Naik and state assembly's leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar - which was threatening to pull the rank and file apart. But not only was Gadkari snubbed by the sulking Naik, a few hours after his departure to New Delhi, but the party president's lukewarm comments on the rampaging illegal mining industry in Goa also left the MP baffled. The party chief's seeming inability to break the ice between Naik and Parrikar was evident Sunday when during a press meet Gadkari refused to allow the MP to speak to the media about his differences with the party. "Whatever issue there was has been settled… He is contesting the elections," Gadkari said, virtually blaming media for blowing out of proportion the differences between the two leaders. Two hours later, a sombre Naik, who had for months been insisting on contesting state assembly elections, announced that he would not contest the March 3 election. "I do not have the time to carry out my campaign. I will not contest the seat," Naik said, disregarding Gadkari's assurance and stumping both party officials and the media. Projected by the BJP as a backward class leader in Goa, Naik had over the last several months gone on record as to making a re-entry into state politics after serving three terms as north Goa MP and being appointed minister of state in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. Naik's supporters claimed that Parrikar, who has been the face of the party in Goa, was stalling Naik's re-entry into state politics, because it would create two power centres. Parrikar denied the allegations. On the mining front, Gadkari's comments calling for a rejig of "eccentric environment laws" in response to a query on how the party planned to handle illegal mining has also baffled the state party unit. "Here we are claiming that there has been a Rs.25,000 crore illegal mining scam by the Congress government and Gadkariji talks about changing environment laws. We have received no clear direction on how to hit out at the Congress over the huge mining scam now," a party leader said, hinting that BJP's proposed poll campaign against illegal mining might just not take-off. Instead of taking on the illegal mining industry head on, Gadkari had underlined the need for changing environment laws and establishing a balance between "industry, environment and employment" to further India's growth story. http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Goa/BJP-woes-in-Goa-worsen-after-Gadkari-visit/Article1-808107.aspx * * * Goa polls: Congress in tailspin over dissidence PTI | Feb 9, 2012, 11.18AM IST PANAJI: In a bind over largescale dissidence in the party ahead of March 3 Goa Assembly polls, Congress poll managers are pulling all stops to placate the dissenters who have raised the banner of revolt after being denied tickets. The anxiety in Congress is palpable from the fact that the ruling party has withheld announcing its third and final list of four candidates out of 33 seats it is contesting in alliance with NCP which is fielding candidates on 7 seats. "We will try to meet every aspirant. Talk to them and try to take them on board," senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes, who heads the screening committee to shortlist the candidates, told PTI last evening after holding a series of meetings throughout the day. In a bid to check dissidence, Fernandes is holding parleys with the hopefuls and a few upset party leaders in the coastal state. "It is common thing that everybody who does not get a ticket feels hurt. The party will talk to everyone individually and put in all the efforts to ensure that they (dissidents) don't leave the organisation," he said. Congress has so far released two lists. However, owing to rebellion it is going slow in announcing the third one where dispute is on regarding two seats. In Mormugao, minority community candidate Saifulla Khan is vying for party ticket and so is Sankalp Amonkar. In Fatorda constituency, another hopeful M K Shaikh has thrown his hat in ring while Vijay Sardesai is staking claim for the seat. In a pointer to the heart burn in the party rank and file over distribution of tickets, two leaders, Dinar Tarcar and Pravin Zantye, have put down their papers. Tarcar would be contesting on Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party's (MGP's) ticket in St Cruz constituency while Zantye will file his nomination as an Independent from Mayem constituency. MGP has recently entered into a pre-poll alliance with main opposition BJP. Meanwhile, Victoria Fernandes, who is a lone woman legislator in Congress, is fuming over being denied ticket to contest from St Cruz seat. She has announced that her son, Rudolf, will be fighting as an Independent in the constituency against the official candidate of the party. Responding to a query, Fernandes said the party would announce the third list comprising four candidates in the next three days. "We have selected candidates as per people's wish," he said, adding the decision not to field Victoria Fernandes was also taken after thorough deliberations. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Goa-polls-Congress-in-tailspin-over-dissidence/articleshow/11819916.cms * * * '9 MLAs had criminal cases against them' TNN | Feb 9, 2012, 06.37AM IST PANAJI: If statistics are to be believed, Goa's legislators present a poor picture of themselves on a number of counts. According to data released by the Association for Democratic Reform (ADR), an election watch organisation which collates data based on affidavits filed by candidates, the outgoing Goa legislative assembly had an average of only 26 sittings per year for 3.5 years till February 2011. Nine MLAs had criminal cases pending against them according to the 2007 affidavits, while the average asset per MLA was 4.25 cr. Five MLAs, including the speaker of the legislative assembly Pratapsingh Rane, had not furnished their PAN card details. ADR Goa unit coordinator Bhaskar Assoldnekar said "Goa is the only state where the speaker had not disclosed PAN card details." Explaining the objectives of the ADR, Assoldnekar said ADR sought to generate information for voters based on the affidavits, so when the voters go to vote they are well informed about the candidates' background. He also said ADR was also aiming to bring more voters to the polling booth. Assoldnekar said the revenue expenditure of the state had increased by 23% to Rs 802 crore in 2009-10 while revenue receipts increased by only Rs 502 crore. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/9-MLAs-had-criminal-cases-against-them/articleshow/11817878.cms * * * Goa: BJP disowns tainted MGP candidate PTI | 11:02 PM,Feb 09,2012 Panaji, Feb 9 (PTI) BJP leader Manohar Parrikar today said he would not campaign for Dinar Tarcar, who had been indicted by state's Public Accounts Committee for illegal mining. "We cannot dictate to our alliance partners whom to give ticket. As far as I am concerned, I will not campaign for him," Parrikar told reporters today. Tarcar has been fielded by Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), an ally of BJP, from St Cruz constituency for March 3 assembly polls. The Public Accounts Committee's report on mining had indicted Tarcar. Parrikar had headed the PAC. "He (Tarcar) is not our candidate, therefore I can't defend him," Parrikar said, responding to a volley of questions on the issue. "If voted to power, our government will present an action taken report on the PAC report. After that whoever is indicted in it will have to face the action as per the law," the leader of opposition said. PAC report and subsequent investigation by Mines and Geology Department had forced the closure of two mines run by Tarcar. http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/goa-bjp-disowns-tainted-mgp-candidate/961375.html --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------