13 May 2002
BJP PROPS UP UNION MINISTER
AGAINST DESERTER DY CM
From Jal Khambata
NEW
DELHI: Stunned by Goa Deputy Chief Minister Ravi Naik defecting back
to Congress, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday fielded
against him its Union Minister of State for Shipping Shripad Naik
from Ponda in the Assembly elections taking place on May 30. Sripad
was specially chosen to split the Bhandari Samaj, an OBC having large
number, to which Ravi Naik also belongs.
In a press release
issued in Panjim, the Goa unit of BJP claimed that "in keeping
with the highest traditions of the BJP, Shripad Naik tendered his
resignation from the post of Union Minister and then filed his
nomination papers." The party has plunged into such a shamble
from Ravi's shock that it made the claim of the highest traditions
while the actual resignation has not taken place.
Inquiries
with the Rashtrapati Bhawan and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO),
however, showed that Shripad Naik's resignation has not been received
as yet. It has to be submitted to the Prime Minister but Naik
happened to be in Goa on Monday filing his nomination and moreover he
is not required to resign from the Union Ministry or Parliament
before contesting the Assembly election.
Though Shripad Naik
expressed confidence in the leadership of Chief Minister Manohar
Parrikar, sources here said he would replace Parrikar if elected and
the BJP wins the majority. Since after the stunning defection of Ravi
Naik, the BJP sources are, however, skeptical if the party would be
able to even get 10 seats it had won last time and then captured
power through mass defections. END