Sources in the know said that BJP’s four supporting MLAs from Salcete have preferred to wait and watch before they take a final call, saying the leadership tangle facing the ruling party is the BJP’s family affair.
Incidentally, sources said that even as the leadership battle intensified on Friday with the arrival of deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza from UK, Salcete’s Independents – Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado and his Velim counterpart Benjamin D’Silva have air dashed to the Gulf for a football final scheduled today. Both Avertano and Benjamin could not be contacted on their cell phones and sources said the duo is presently holed up in the Gulf in connection with the football finals and are expected to return home early Saturday.
If Goa Vikas Party supremo Mickky Pacheco is to be believed, his Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva has also reportedly gone out of station on Friday. Sources in the know said that Caitu had planned his Delhi tour with family long ago before the political developments unfolded in the saffron camp.
The GVP Supremo and his Benaulim MLA are believed to have called on CM Manohar Parrikar separately in Panjim on Friday. They are believed to have discussed the political situation arising in the state and have wished him all the best in his new assignment in Delhi.
When contacted, Mickky said the GVP is closely watching the developments in the BJP, saying that what is happening inside the BJP is their family affair. “It is not fair to interfere or comment on the developments within the BJP”, he said, when asked whether the GVP would prefer either of the Arlekar-Parsekar duo for CM’s chair or support Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza.
“For the moment, I do not think I or my party have any role to play on the question of leadership within the BJP. It is their internal family affair. Our role will come only as a last resort”, he said, without outlining GVP’s choice of candidate for the post of Chief Minister. Incidentally, sources in the Avertano camp said the Fisheries Minister and his Velim counterpart are believed to be maintaining a wait and watch attitude.
