'Arun Jaitley guided BJP karyakartas, aided party's rise in Goa'

PANAJI: Former chief minister Manohar Parrikar's 'parivartan yatra', which brought Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to power with a thumping majority in 2012, was launched by former Union finance minister Arun Jaitley.
Rajya Sabha MP and BJP state president Vinay Tendulkar told TOI on Saturday that Parrikar had called Jaitley to launch the yatra, which helped the party win the polls.
Tendulkar added that Jaitley had started visiting the state in the '90s to meet intellectuals and industrialists in a bid to expand the party's base in Goa.
Jaitley had regularly visited the state till 2007, but did not travel to Goa in the last four years due to ill health, Tendulkar said.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant, too, expressed his condolences. In his message, Sawant said he was deeply saddened by the demise of the former Union finance minster.
Sawant said Jaitley was an outstanding parliamentarian and a brilliant lawyer, appreciated across parties. "His contribution to Indian politics will be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family members. May God give them strength. May his soul rest in peace," he said.
The chief minister will attend Jaitley's funeral in New Delhi on Sunday.
Union minister for state for defence Shripad Naik, said Jaitley's demise was a great loss. "He was a pillar of BJP and made great efforts for a positive impact in the previous government," he said.
Senior BJP leader Rajendra Arlekar said Jaitley used to hold closed-door meetings with karyakartas and give them guidance. "He would gel well with all the karyakartas," he said.
Former deputy chief minister Vijai Sardesai tweeted that Jaitley was an "articulate, knowledgeable and a versatile politician. Am saddened by the death of the former finance minister & senior leader of BJP," his post read.