Team Herald
PANJIM: Political leaders in Delhi and Goa are closely monitoring the situation in the coastal state as Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar remains hospitalised at Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) since Saturday night.
The sudden deterioration in Parrikar’s health condition may be a cause for trigger in the politically volatile State where the government is cobbled together with a fractured mandate.
BJP sources informed that party national president Amit Shah has been monitoring the situation in Goa, and is likely to send his emissaries in the State to take feedback.
BJP national general secretary B L Santhosh, Goa Desk General Secretary Vijay Puranik and MP Meenakshi Lekhi will arrive in Goa on Monday to take stock of the political situation.
“Amit Shah is monitoring the situation. He is in touch with BJP leaders and the alliance partners. Three leaders are coming tomorrow (Monday). Any decision will be taken only after consulting the coalition members,” sources stated.
The biggest worry haunting everyone is if BJP opts for dissolution of State Assembly. The concern is basically because the current Assembly strength has been reduced to 37, while Cumbarjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar still remains out of bound, bringing it down to 36. BJP is left with only 13 MLAs following the death of Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza.
Considering Parrikar’s health, if he is asked to take complete bed rest, then the actual Assembly strength will come down to 35 and with Speaker not able to vote unless there is a tie, it goes down to 34.
Congress is already with 14 MLAs in its camp as requires three to four more MLAs to stake claim to form the government.
What accelerate the worries are certain statements made in the recent past. Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai had fuelled political speculations after he said that he may not be a minister even as the government would continue.
This is seen as an indication of Sardesai aligning with other forces to form an alternate government.
MGP too has been showing signs of dissent by fielding their candidates for Shiroda and Mandrem by-elections.
In such a situation, the volatility of the government thickens. Though none of the leaders were ready to comment on the political situation, the internal bickering within the BJP is a cause for concern.
The BJP is also looking at the current situation from the Lok Sabha polls perspective. The party wants to win both seats, for which it would require the help of its alliance partners. Any disturbance in the current coalition may also reflect on party’s prospects in Lok Sabha polls.
The Congress is waiting and watching the situation. The party has wished for the speedy recovery of the Chief Minister, but is also simultaneously pumping up its attempts to look out for alternatives. “We are monitoring the situation and would not like to comment on anything,” Congress president Girish Chodankar said.
