Team Herald
PANJIM: After Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has now asked Science and Technology Minister Michael Lobo to fall in line and to stop making statements that are embarrassing to the government and the party.
Earlier this month, the party had pulled up Rane and had asked him to cooperate with Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant or to face disciplinary action.
The party leaders are of the opinion that Lobo, making frequent public statements is not good for the party and is also causing embarrassment to the government. What has not been liked by the party is Lobo recently taking a dig at Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho over the issue of fitment of digital meters for taxis and demanding that the meters be provided free of cost to the taxi operators.
The Ports Minister had earlier stated that his wife, Parra sarpanch Delilah Lobo, is keen in contesting the ensuing Assembly elections either from Saligao or Siolim constituency and that she put her claim in writing before the party.
In the past, Lobo was also at logger head with Deputy Chief Minister Manohar (Babu) Ajgaonkar and had slammed the Goa Tourism master plan. He had also suggested that Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) chairman and MLA Dayanand Sopte be inducted as a Minister and be allocated the tourism portfolio.
The party is learnt to have told Lobo not to make statements to the media regarding the party and government.
Meanwhile, BJP national general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh arrived in Goa on Wednesday and held deliberations with the State leaders along with Goa desk in-charge C T Ravi.
Both senior leaders are likely to tour some Assembly constituencies and guide party workers ahead as part of the party’s preparations for the upcoming elections, sources said.
