Wagh quits Cong again; now to join BJP
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 30 October 2011 22:23 IST
Vishnu Wagh welcomed by BJP leaders
Vishnu Wagh today joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, while quitting the Congress for the second time and changing his party loyalty for the fifth time.
Wagh was the general secretary as well as spokesman of the ruling Congress.
After he came out openly against the Medium of Instruction policy of the Congress government, rumours were making round that Wagh is planning to join the BJP.
Wagh however had dismissed the rumour when media had tried to seek clarification from him in this regard.
He however proved the rumour right while the MoI agitation has subsided.
"My MoI stand was in sync with the BJP. Many people advised me to support BJP, which is a party aiming to save the future of Goa," he told reporters after joining the party.
Wagh, who was otherwise known for his ‘principled’ stand against the Sangh Parivar, even told a press conference that he is not averse to RSS ideology.
“I have spent five years with RSS ideologue like Dada Gaonkar in Mumbai and I can speak for five hours on Hindu religion”, said Wagh proudly.
The journalist-turned-politician began his active political career in 1994 after he quit journalism.
Little before 1994 Assembly election, he was even made election campaign chief of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and was instrumental in drafting its election manifesto.
However, burying his so called differences with home minister Ravi Naik, Wagh suddenly joined the Congress by embracing Ravi during election campaign.
After addressing two public meetings from MGP platform and criticising the Congress, Wagh in the afternoon went straight to the Congress House along with Ravi, to join the then ruling party.
The MGP leaders were shocked with his last-minute shift over.
While remaining ‘loyal’ to the Congress and Ravi for almost seven years, Wagh also hobnobbed with Churchill Alemao, who became South Goa MP in 1996 Lok Sabha poll as the United Goans Democratic Party, by defeating the Congress.
Wagh then joined the Shiv Sena in 2002, in Mumbai, but could not last there for more than over one year.
He then returned to Goa and once again joined the Congress in 2004.
Being a writer and active theatre personality, he was even made the vice chairman of Kala Academy, to assist speaker and Kala Academy chairman Pratapsing Rane.
After 2007 election, Wagh became one of the close aides of chief minister Digambar Kamat and was even made media advisor, vice chairman of Rajiv Kala Mandir and chairman of OBC Corporation.
After he came out openly against Kamat government’s MoI policy to give grants to English medium primary schools, Wagh announced that he would quit each government post every week.
However, barring few posts he quit as committee members of ESG, Kala Academy and media advisor etc, Wagh continued at important posts of prestigious institutions like Rajiv Kala Mandir and OBC Corporation, till he was replaced.
Wagh has now jumped the saffron wagon, claiming it to be unconditional.
Though even opposition leader Manohar Parrikar claimed that Wagh has not been promised any ticket, sources in the BJP confirm that he would be fielded from St Andrem, his home constituency.
He, along with 70 workers, was welcomed into the saffron brigade today, in the presence of Parrikar, local party president Laxmikant Parsekar and North Goa MP Shripad Naik.
While addressing the press conference, Wagh blamed the Congress for unrest in the state on several issues including nurturing illegal mining.
"Congress is fully involved in illegal mining trade in the state," Wagh said, refusing to name anyone.
"Everyone knows who are involved," he said.
Most of the important people, who matter, have time and again, jumped from one bandwagon to another. I fail to understand, the purpose of having parties, with ideologies not akin to each other and constitutions way different from one another. In the beginning there were two or three main parties in Goa, but two of them Regional. The MGP, which was always in lead, had leaders who defected and joined the Congress, in the national mainstream. Today, they are deeply entrenched in Goan politics, come hell or high water, and have become permanent pillars.
A lot of different permutations and combinations before and after the election results and thereby instability, most of time and energy are a bane to the people at large. The same rogues who have looted the nation, still look like the best bet to many. We are never going to change.
Mr. Vishnu Wagh is a true Goan. Most MGP members, except Ms. Kakodkar, have been flitfooted. BJP is not different, too. Except Mr. Parrikar you cannot guaranty anybody. And, not Congress too, the difference being Congressman forms another vestigial groups with adjectives and nowns like, United, Rajiv, Goa, etc. but keep the Mangalsutra of 'Congress' as a subscript. This helps them to join back Congress lock, stock and barrell. A grand homecoming party would be thrown. Fatlem naka ata! We look to the future, you see.
Jumping Wagh.......hehehehe