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