Rajnath to visit Goa to pep up unit for early polls

Panaji, Aug 6: Goa unit of the BJP predicts premature polls to the state Legislative Assembly in January ''if all the goings in the ruling Congress are any indication.''

Party president Rajendra Arlekar told sources today problems the Pratapsinh Rane government was facing from both within the party and coalition partners point out to elections in the state.

Assembly elections to the 40-member House was held on January 4, 2002 when BJP-led coalition headed by Manohar Parrikar was formed. It could not continue the full term following what he termed ''back-stabbing'' of his partners resulting in dismissal of the government one year ago.

At present, the BJP has a strength of 17 in the House with two of them including Arlekar and Dayand Mandrekar stand disqualified for voting while the lone UGDP legislator Mathanhy Saldanha, who was also disqualified, was supporting the BJP.

The Congress on the otherhand, had 18 members backed by 2 NCP and one independent and one MGP member in the House.

Referring to the proposed two-day maiden visit of the BJP national president Rajnath Singh from August 11, Mr Arlekar said the occasion would be used to prepare a strategy for early polls.

Mr Singh, who had been visiting all states, had postponed his visit earlier to Goa following death of the veteran leader Pramod Mahajan.

Mr Singh would address more than 1,000 party workers on August 11 and interact with the leaders on ways to further strengthen the party and motivate them.

Meanwhile, the new president of the state unit would be elected in the first week of October. Prominent among those likely to contest include North Goa MP Shripad Naik and Laxmikant Parsekar (Mandrem MLA).

The president is elected for every three year term. Mr Arlekar was elected in the year 2003. Organisation election process for other posts has already started.

UNI