PORVORIM: Ahead of the BJP Central observers’ visit to Goa, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Tuesday left for Delhi to meet party national president J P Nadda.
Speaking to media persons, Sawant said that his Delhi visit is to meet Nadda and other leaders. He, however, refused to elaborate on the agenda of his sudden visit to Delhi. BJP State president Sadanand Shet Tanavade accompanied Sawant to Delhi.
Sources said the BJP high command will hold a meeting in Delhi with regard to government formation in Goa and Uttarakhand. The meeting, to be chaired by Nadda, will also have national observer B L Santosh in attendance.
Before leaving for the national capital, Sawant said the new government will be formed after the election of the leader of the legislative party in the presence of the Central observers, who are expected to arrive on Wednesday.
“Central observer (of the BJP) will come, a discussion will be held, and the leader of the legislative party will be elected and then the formation of the government will take place,” the Chief Minister said.
Despite emerging as the single largest party with 20 seats and receiving support from three Independent MLAs and two from the MGP, the BJP is yet to stake claim to form the next government in Goa even six days after the poll results were declared.
BJP functionaries claim that the party High Command wants to hold the swearing-in ceremonies of all four State governments – Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and Uttarakhand – after the Holi festival, set to be celebrated on March 18.
MLA Atanasio Monserrate confirmed that the Central leaders want to hold the swearing-in ceremony of the new governments, across all four States it has won, after Holi. “We have a clear majority and there is no harm in waiting,” Monserrate said, adding, “Central leaders are clear in their vision for Goa.”
The BJP Parliamentary Board has appointed Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar as the central observer for Goa and Union Minister of State for Fisheries and Animal Husbandry L Murugan as co-observer.
On Saturday, March 12, Sawant had tendered his resignation to Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai at Raj Bhavan to pave the way for the formation of the new government. Pillai had later appointed him as caretaker CM till the new government is in place.
