Former chief minister LAXMIKANT PARSEKAR in an exclusive interview with The Navhind Times, speaks to RAMNATH N PAI RAIKAR about his defeat at the recent state assembly election, the main reason behind it and the political situation in the state
Q: What do you think are the main reasons for your defeat at the recently held state assembly election?
There are 8 to 10 factors, which are directly responsible for my defeat. However, the main factor that made me lose the assembly polls is my close associates backstabbing me by silently working for the Congress candidate. As you know, I was too busy as the state chief minister, which reduced my visits to my constituency. This resulted in delinking me from my voters. To make up for my lack of contact with the voters, I deputed some of my close associates for maintaining good relations with the people of my constituency. However, a couple of my top associates not only misused my name for their personal gains in turn harassing the people of my constituency, but also regularly met my political rival in this election, and worked out a strategy to defeat me. I am not making any wild statements as I have with me, the recordings of conversations during these meetings. To tell you frankly, this election provided me with an experience which was no less than drinking deadly poison. In fact, I have learnt one thing from this election and that is, a closest person to a man in power can be his number one enemy.
Q: Do you feel that the rebel group of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh working against the Bharatiya Janata Party in this election was also responsible for your defeat?
I feel that rather than dividing and snatching away my votes, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Goa Suraksha Manch vitiated the whole atmosphere. Now, if the people, whom we considered our idols, take up door-to-door visits condemning the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, then it should be considered really unfortunate. I, on my part, also failed to provide clarification to my voters about such anti-BJP campaign as taken up by the RSS and the GSM.
Q: You, during your tenure as the chief minister introduced public welfare schemes like Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana and started projects such as the new Zuari bridge and the Mopa International Greenfield Airport. Do you feel that your voters failed to take cognisance of these important aspects?
As I said, my close associates, who were in charge of my election campaign, did not inform the people about all these things. In fact, most of the schemes, which were launched during my tenure as the chief minister as well as the major projects undertaken by me, were not projected during my election campaign. I did not know about this during the campaign period, and when the same was brought to my notice, it was too late. I have recordings of the conversations between my close associates and my rival candidate, who were discussing how to suppress information about my achievements. If my voters had known about it, the same could have made positive impact on my prospects at the election. Anyway, it is unfortunate for the Mandrem constituency, as I had planned various projects for it including the Electronic City.
Q: Besides you, many ministers in the erstwhile government also faced defeat. Do you think that there were similar reasons for their rejection?
I am sure and more than certain that their defeat must have been orchestrated by their associates, the people in whom they placed their trust. It is really unfortunate for the field of politics that a person standing immediately behind the man in power, is mostly ambitious, sometimes overambitious, and wants to take the place of the man in power. Such people are mostly vulnerable to money and could be bought by the rival candidates. I failed to understand this and paid the price.
Q: Would you like to lead the state Bharatiya Janata Party, as you had done before, to strengthen its organisational backbone?
No. I don’t have any such desire. Not at least in the near future. I am a person, who wants to carry out good works in all constituencies, and not take up such things selectively. Today, everything is in mess, and there is vast difference in working system as compared to the past. I would not like to see myself caught in such scenario. I am not a person, who takes one stand for one constituency and another for the rest of them.
Q: What do you think about the way Bharatiya Janata Party formed its government after the recent state assembly polls?
It would have been better if we had let the Congress form the government, and allowed the people actually see how its leaders fight for power and posts among themselves. I am sure their government would have not lasted for more than a year, and the voters would have voted the BJP back to power with absolute majority. As for our party winning only 13 seats, I would say there were many reasons for it, including a number of changes that happened since January 2017.