Team Herald
PANJIM: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday ruled out the possibility of any leadership change in Goa while maintaining that the coalition government it is leading will complete a five year term with Manohar Parrikar as its leader.
The statement comes a day after BJP national president Amit Shah held talks with alliance party leaders Vijay Sardesai and Ramkrishan (Sudin) Dhavalikar on the leadership issue. Names of BJP MLAs Pramod Sawant, Vishwajit Rane and State president Vinay Tendulkar have been discussed as alternatives to Parrikar who is ailing.
Addressing media persons, BJP MLA and Power Minister Nilesh Cabral ruled out any leadership change and stated that Parrikar is their leader and will continue to be. “We have our leader Manohar Parrikar. Who told you, we are seeking for leadership change?” he countered the media, adding, “There is no question of leadership as we have Parrikar as our leader.”
Cabral said that Parrikar is monitoring the State administration on a daily basis. “He may not be physically present but he is handling the administration,” he said.
Responding to a question on whether the Chief Minister is accessible to the public, the Minister said, “When you are sick you are also not accessible to the public, same is here”.
When asked about Vijai Sardesai’s statement that BJP is considering the leadership issue seriously in Goa, Cabral said, “It is Vijai’s statement of personal interest. It is not BJP’s statement or government comment. I don’t need to clarify on that.”
Soon after meeting Shah in Delhi, Sardesai had said that the BJP central leaders are seriously considering the leadership issue to give Goa a stable government.
Earlier, Tendulkar said that in March 2017, BJP senior leader Nitin Gadkari took the lead to form a BJP-led coalition government in Goa. “We want to continue this coalition government for the next three and half years thus completing five year tenure under Manohar Parrikar’s leadership,” he said.
“We want to give a stable government to the people of Goa,” he added.
He said the government is in a position to prove its majority on the floor of the House. “Assembly will not be called tomorrow, there is time for it. We have support of 23 MLAs. Those who are sick will be back in the State shortly,” he said referring to MLA Francis D’Souza who is in USA and MLA Pandurang Madkaikar.
Tendulkar said that D’Souza will be returning shortly and Madkaikar’s health is also improving.
While D’Souza is in USA since August, Madkaikar is hospitalized in Mumbai since June after he suffered a brain stroke.
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Parrikar is one of the finest administrators: Shirodkar
Calling Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar as one of the finest administrators, new entrant to BJP and former Congress MLA Subhash Shirodkar said Parrikar is monitoring the State administration even from his bed.
“Parrikar is one of the finest administrators I have come across after Pratapsingh Rane,” Shirodkar said. “I have worked with many chief ministers, but except for Rane Senior, Parrikar is finest administrator,” he commented.
“Even today when he is on sick bed, day in and day out he is monitoring the development of the State, particularly finances of the State,” the leader said.
