Congress groupism drives Suresh Golatkar to BJP camp

A day after Ghatkopar corporator Pravin Chheda deserted the BJP to join the Congress ahead of the February 2012 BMC polls, the right-wing party seems to have settled the score. For, Congress councillor from the suburb, Suresh Golatkar, on Saturday announced his entry into BJP, saying he was tired of groupism within two senior Congress leaders, namely Gurudas Kamat and Virendra Bakshi, that had him side-lined for long.

Golatkar, a member of House for three terms (twice on Shiv Sena ticket and once as a Congressman) in a row, currently represents ward number 125 in Ghatkopar.

“The bickering within the two groups in Congress impelled me to reach to the conclusion of deserting the party. If I would invite Kamat to inaugurate a civic work in my ward, the Bakshi faction would feel disappointed and vice versa,” Golatkar, who reportedly was in touch with BJP leaders over joining the right-wing party for the past six months, said.

Labelled as being close to senior Congress minister Narayan Rane, the councillor has declared that at least 100 of his supporters, too, would join the BJP. Welcoming Golatkar, BJP’s state unit president Sudhir Mungantiwar said the move would benefit the party. While confirming that the corporator had joined BJP unconditionally, Mungantiwar added that Golatkar may find a role in organisational body.

The Congress though stressed it would not suffer any blow on Golatkar leaving the party.