NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Union Minister of State for AYUSH (independent charge) Shripad Naik on Wednesday said that he would take up with BJP’s central committee the induction of two former Congress leaders Pandurang Madkaikar and Mauvin Godinho in the party.
Speaking on the sideline of the ‘Digi dhan fair’ held in the city, Naik said, “I had just expressed my discontent when Madkaikar was inducted in the party. I had said I was not taken into confidence. I had never objected to his entry in the party. But I will raise this issue with the central committee (of the party).”
Naik, however, clarified that there have been no differences within the party over the matter.
Madkaikar was inducted into the BJP in the presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar last week.
Madkaikar is the second Congress leader to quit the party and resign as Cumbharjua MLA this month. Earlier, former Congress leader Mauvin Godinho had resigned as Dabolim MLA and quit the Congress to join the BJP.
The entry of Madkaikar into the BJP has ruffled the feathers of the Union minister creating a situation of misunderstanding between him and his son Siddhesh Naik, who is aspiring to contest the assembly polls from the Cumbharjua constituency on BJP ticket.
Responding to a question whether his son would contest as an Independent from the Cumbharjua constituency, Naik ruled out any such possibility.
When questioned over as to who he projects as chief ministerial face of the party in the state, Naik said that it is for the party to decide who should be projected as the next candidate for the top job.
He said the current Chief Minister has done a good job in the state. “Everyone is trying their level best to perform. Parsekar has also done a good job as a CM,” he said.