Panaji: BJP veterans say merger is 'Congressisation' of party

PANAJI: Senior leaders of BJP are divided over the merger of Congress’ splinter group of ten MLAs into their party fold.


While some say that the decision was in the interest of the party, others maintain that party interest should have been protected before taking any such decision.

Terming the merger as ‘Congressisation’ of BJP, a senior leader said he is upset with the decision as there was no discussion on induction of Congress MLAs into the party.

“Karyakartas in general and public in particular are hurt with the move and now the party has to decide how it can come out of this situation. This is like Congressisation of BJP,” said senior leader Rajendra Arlekar .

“We cannot afford to have such a concoction in the party. How can we run the party if all are from other outfits? Those running the party should have pondered over this before arriving at any decision,” he said.

Arlekar said that those who are running the party have not thought over this issue and almost sidelined senior leaders before arriving at the decision.

In his comment on the likely merger, senior BJP leader and Union minister of state for defence Shripad Naik said that every coin has two sides. “This issue should have been discussed at the party level in the interest of the BJP.”

When asked whether he was not informed in advance, Naik said he was in Delhi attending the Parliament session.

Former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar welcomed the joining of ten Congress MLAs into BJP terming it would strengthen the party and connect with all strata of society. “Party has now all types of public representatives,” he said.

Dayanand Mandrekar said it was a major setback to Congress party. “We welcome all those who would like to join BJP. It is our duty to welcome them as it will further strengthen the party. Even when WRD minister Vinod Paliencar was taken into government, we had made a compromise.”

“When Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte joined the party, we were deeply saddened as we were not informed about the decision. But, this time chief minister Pramod Sawant called us personally and informed about the merger. In the interest of BJP, we should back him to go ahead,” Mandrekar said.