Parrikar's aide Satish Dhond appointed Goa BJP organising secretary

Panaji, Dec 14 (IANS) With an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and the by-polls in two legislative assembly constituencies, the BJP on Friday announced the appointment of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharak Satish Dhond as the organising secretary for Goa.

Dhond, a close aide of ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, is considered to be one of the key architects of the BJP's rise as an organisation and its ascent to power, by working behind the scenes and persuading leaders to toe the party line.

Confirming Dhond's appointment, Goa Bharatiya Janata Party's general secretary Sadanand Shet Tanavde on Friday said, "He will be reporting to BJP's general secretary for Goa Vijay Puranik."

Dhond is currently holding charge of Thane and Konkan regions in Maharashtra.

Dhond is expected to meet Goa BJP office bearers at the state party headquarters on Friday to chart out the course of action for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and review the party's campaign plan.

The state is also scheduled to witness two assembly by-polls, which have been necessitated following the resignation of two Congress MLAs in October, who eventually joined the BJP.