PANJIM: Hours after Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar expanded his cabinet, the Congress party chided the BJP for forming its cabinet with the help of leaders who defeated their candidates in the Assembly elections.
Speaking to Herald, Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant Kavalekar took a dig at the BJP stating that they are celebrating formation of the government and cabinet with the help of Congress leaders. “I don’t understand, what BJP is boasting of? Parrikar has formed a cabinet with MLAs who defeated their leaders, including Ministers,” he said. “It looks like non-BJP leaders but BJP sarkar (government),” Kavalekar added.The CLP leader said that though BJP is confident of giving a stable government, the people of Goa have no faith in them and hence they were reduced from 21 to 13 seats. In a statement, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Girish Chodankar said the induction of former Congress MLA Vishwajit Rane into the cabinet is an admission that BJP has conceded defeat.
He said Rane is currently minister only for five months as after his defeat in the by-polls he will have to vacate the position. “People of Valpoi have already decided to defeat the traitor who ditched their trust,” Chodankar said.
The AICC leader said BJP lost to Congress in all possible ways which is reflected in its cabinet. “Of the ministers, BJP’s share of ministerial berth is given to Madkaikar, Rane and Mauvin, trio imported from Congress. And the rest are non-BJP MLAs, who defeated the saffron party leaders during the recent election,” he said. “In a desperate attempt to gain and retain power, Parrikar has done gross injustice to the faithful and loyal party MLAs who are taking beatings helplessly,” he commented.
