PANJIM: Putting speculations on leadership change to rest, BJP national president Amit Shah on Sunday announced that Manohar Parrikar will continue to be the Chief Minister of the BJP-led coalition government in the State.
Shah, who took to social media to announce the decision, pointed at a possible cabinet reshuffle and re-allocation of portfolios soon.
The fortnight-long drama on leadership change finally ended on Sunday. Parrikar, who is been ailing since mid-February with pancreatic-related ailment, is currently undergoing treatment at AIIMS in New Delhi.
“After holding discussions with party’s core committee, it has been decided that Manohar Parrikar will head the government in Goa,” Shah tweeted.
“Changes in cabinet and re-allocation of portfolios will happen soon,” he added. The portfolios handled by Parrikar will be distributed equally amongst the cabinet ministers.
With two more ministers- Francis D’Souza (Urban Development) and Pandurang Madkaikar (Power) also undergoing treatment, it is likely that they will be dropped from the cabinet and replaced with two BJP MLAs. D’Souza is in the US for last two weeks, while Madkaikar is hospitalised after suffering a brain stroke in June.
Earlier last week, Amit Shah had sent a three-member BJP team comprising of its National General Secretaries B L Santhosh, Ram Lal and Goa incharge Vijay Puranik, to take stock of the political situation. The committee held series of meetings with BJP MLAs, core committee and alliance partners on the leadership front and government stability.
“During the meeting, BJP MLAs, core committee and even the allies were of the opinion that Parrikar should continue in the chair as any changes will affect the stability of the government,” sources revealed, adding that ‘Goa Forward Party (GFP) and Independents had strongly raised their objections to ad-hoc arrangements, if any being considered’.
Core Committee member and former BJP MLA Dilip Parulekar said, “We all are of the opinion that Parrikar should continue as Chief Minister and there is no question of leadership change. Where is the question of leadership change? Parrikar is there as the leader of the present government”.
Sources revealed that Parrikar, too, had conveyed his message to Shah that he will continue to function as Chief Minister and that his portfolios will be distributed equally.
The BJP-led coalition government has 23 MLAs in 40-member State Assembly, which include BJP (14) and three each of MGP, GFP and Independents.
