PANJIM: Political uncertainty surfaced on Tuesday, as despite the debacle at the recently-concluded Lok Sabha elections and the Assembly by-polls, Congress is said to have extended an offer to Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai to head a minority government with its support. There was also growing speculation that some Congress MLAs may quit the party and join the BJP.
Sources in the Congress confirmed that after the party failed to regain the numbers as the single largest party in the Goa Legislative Assembly, over the weekend senior party leaders, including the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president and Leader of Opposition approved an attempt to form the government.
One of the party leaders said, “Goa Forward Party (GFP) chief and Dy CM Sardesai has been offered to head the government with the support of the Congress.”
Speaking to Herald, Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant (Babu) Kavalekar confirmed that the party is in talks with MLAs from the ruling dispensation. He said, “It is a collective decision of the party and we will form the government. You will see in the coming days some new developments.”
Asked about the offer to Sardesai to be the CM, he said that the options are open.
Kavalekar, however, refuted speculation that Congress MLAs were on the verge of joining the BJP and said, “There is nothing like that. We have taken a collective decision.”
Congress sources said that the GFP leadership is weighing on the opportunity due to statements of BJP state president Vinay Tendulkar on the day of counting that two more MLAs from the Congress are waiting to join the BJP.
The source said that if what Tendulkar says becomes a reality then the BJP-led government will not need the support of the GFP.
“With nearly three years still to go for the current Assembly, without power Vijai will lose relevance. He also fears a similar coup by the BJP like that on the MGP and his two MLAs may be made to split. To avoid such a situation, this could be the best bargain,” the Congressman said.
While ‘operation kamal’ has been making inroads even in Karnataka where the Congress supported Janata Dal (Secular) formed the government with HD Kumaraswamy as the Chief Minister, the Congress hopes similar arithmetic to work with Vijai bringing along Independents.
However, the GFP leadership has refuted the claims calling them ‘rumours’. While Sardesai could not be reached as he had returned on Tuesday after a long flight from Canada, party vice-president Durgadas Kamat said, “Rumours are floated by disgruntled elements. Those who do not want development float such rumours. Goa Forward Party led by our President and Deputy Chief Minister is for development and to take Goa Forward.”
He further said that GFP is part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Sardesai would be attending the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled on Thursday in New Delhi.
Currently, the BJP-led government includes 17 BJP MLAs and enjoys the support of 3 GFP, 3 Independents and 1 Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLA. Whereas in the opposition; Congress has 15 MLAs and 1 NCP MLA Churchill Alemao.
