‘GSM will be centrist, pursuing ethical politics’

MARGAO: The

Goa Suraksha Manch

(GSM) leadership is looking at capitalising on the current political turmoil within the BJP to establish itself as a strong political force in the state that could serve as an alternative to the BJP. However, unlike the saffron party, the

GSM

won’t have right wing leanings, but will rather like to position itself ideologically as a regional outfit pursuing “ethical politics” and committed to protect Goa’s interests, the GSM think tank said.


Co-convener of Bhartiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) Uday Bhembre, speaking to TOI, said that the GSM’s immediate goal was to fill the leadership vacuum created in Goa on account of “the erosion of ethics and character among Goa’s political leaders.”

“GSM will be an alternative to the BJP of course, but not on the lines of the BJP nor of the Congress. Rather, it will follow centrist political policies, with leanings neither to the left nor right, as most of our members are drawn from diverse social, cultural and ideological backgrounds. Our party will have an independent policy,” Bhembre said.

The BBSM and GSM are now banking on former Goa RSS chief and convenor of BBSM, Subhash Velingker, to join active politics and steer the party towards its political goals.

GSM vice-president, Kiran Nayak, hoped that Velingker would accede to the vociferous demand made by scores of concerned citizens that he step into electoral politics.

“Velingker has so far maintained the position that he is more of a social worker and reformer and that he isn’t cut out for politics. But the BBSM, at its meeting of the core committee held on Saturday has decided to relieve him from BBSM so that he can pursue active politics,” Nayak said, adding that he hoped Velingker would finally bow to societal pressure. “After all, all that he has done all his life is for the society. His principle is that one’s priorities cannot be more important than that of the society.”

“The idea behind having Velingker lead the GSM,” Bhembre said, “is to provide an alternative political leadership in Goa. There is currently a vacuum of leaders of character, loyalty and ethics. And we intend to fill just that.”

GSM sources said that the party was confident of putting up a good show in Shiroda and Mandrem constituencies in the bypolls to be held following the resignation of Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte from those respective assembly segments. One of the reasons, sources pointed out, for the defeat of former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar from Mandrem, was the RSS cadres working against the BJP following Velingker’s unceremonious ouster as the Goa RSS sarsanghchalak.

“One thing is certain, we will ensure that both Shirodkar and Sopte are defeated in the bypolls,” Nayak stressed. “And this will set the tone for GSM developing into a strong and viable political alternative.”