Goa Polls: Popular Shiroda leader Tukaram Borkar quits TMC, says party does not keep its promises

BORIM, SHIRODA: Popular and influential social worker from the Borim panchayat area in the Shiroda constituency in Goa, Tukaram Borkar quit the All India Trinamool Congress party (TMC) in a huff, accusing the Mamata Banerjee-led party of going back on its word and not keeping its promises.

Borkar, a businessman and local builder, is extremely popular among the youth in the entire Ponda taluka as well as the constituencies of Sanvordem and Curchorem and has a following of over 5000 youth. “TMC should have double checked before making commitments to influential persons like Borkar who invested their time and money into promoting the party in the constituency,” said Dilip Naik another known Shiroda leader.

Speaking to this reporter, Borkar who has sponsored hundreds of cricket and football matches in Goa over the last 5 years, said: “I have been working very hard in the constituency as I had made up my mind to contest the elections from Shiroda constituency. I joined the TMC initially when the party came to Goa. I was promised the ticket in no uncertain terms and accordingly I went ahead with my social work and interaction with the people. Suddenly, after 3 to 5 weeks, the party teamed up with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and I came to know that the Shiroda seat was given to the MGP, as the MGP as part of its alliance deal, told the TMC that it wanted all the seats in the Ponda taluka, which includes the Shiroda constituency. The TMC is nothing but a bunch of fixers and opportunistic gold-diggers who will jump into bed with any Tom, Dick or Harry to suit their purpose. They have no morals and ethics, their promises mean nothing and they can stab you in the back, the moment your head is turned,” Borkar said fuming in anger.

According to him, the TMC had promised to set up the Goa unit and Party Committee by 15th December but nothing has happened. “The entire unit is run by Prashant Kishor’s Indian Political Action Committee (IPAC) workers. Goans have no say whatsoever in the TMC setup in Goa. IPAC workers are deciding whom to give the ticket. We are celebrating Liberation Day today, but the TMC is colonizing Goa and Goans who have joined the party have no say in running the unit. Every single thing is dictated from Kolkata or by IPAC. We are nothing but boy scouts, marching to the tune of the Kolkata bosses,” Borkar told this reporter.

According to sources, several people who joined the TMC are likely to leave the party in the coming days as the entire unit is “controlled” by a few people in the IPAC.

Borkar who has a personal vote bank of 2500 to 4000 votes in the Shiroda constituency, had joined the TMC with nearly 1500 supporters. All of them have quit with a very bad experience.

“Prashant Kishor, IPAC and TMC do not know what they are doing. They do not know Goa and definitely not places like Shiroda. They are shooting from the hip and making vague and fake promises to Goans only to rope in members and leaders. They are desperate to get candidates and are spreading fake news via their websites, masquerading as news portals in the State to create confusion and fear. The are building castles in the air, hoodwinking and cheating Goans with false promises. The TMC is the worst political party – a bunch of liars and con men,” opined another influential businessman Ritesh Borkar from the Panchwadi panchayat (part of Shiroda constituency), and a close associate of Tukaram Borkar.

Attempts to contact TMC Goa leaders for comment proved futile, as none of them were willing to speak on the matter. TMC does not have any designated local Goan spokespersons who could be contacted for comment or clarification in Goa and the party senior leadership which boasted of contesting all 40 seats is hardly accessible to local media persons, except a few “friendly” journalists who don’t ask tough questions.