PANJIM: In a bid to break the active Group of Five (G5) in the BJP, the party’s central leaders are plotting a divide and rule policy to avoid any threat to the government or the forthcoming Assembly elections.
According to party sources, BJP leaders have decided to move Dy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza out of the State. “D’Souza will be asked to move out as Governor of a bigger State like Uttar Pradesh or Maharashtra,” sources said.
Sources added that the decision has been conveyed to D’Souza who is upset with the development. “The recent outbursts of D’Souza against the CM have been related to the development,” sources said, adding, “This will kind of destabilise the G5 as D’Souza is considered to be the main leader.”
When contacted for his comments, D’Souza said, “I have no knowledge of what you are saying as I have not been informed of anything as such.”
On his recent outbursts against the CM over transfers and the FIR against Elvis Gomes, D’Souza said, “My outburst against the Chief Minister was only on the transfer issue and nothing else and please do not read much into it,” he said.
Asked what would be his stand if such a position is offered to him, D’Souza said, “If offered, I will move out as instructed by the party leaders. I am a loyal soldier of the party and will remain to be one as posts and tickets don’t affect me.”
Sources further revealed that BJP’s State unit president Vinay Tendulkar is being considered as D’Souza’s successor in Mapusa. Party General Secretary the name of Sadanand Shet Tanawade is also being discussed, they said.
Efforts to contact Tendulkar for his comments proved futile as his phone was continuously out of coverage.
The group led by Francis D’Souza is allegedly supported by MLAs Michael Lobo, Benjamin Silva, Caetano Silva and Glenn Ticlo. The group came together after Manohar Parrikar was appointed the Defence Minister and Laxmikant Parsekar succeeded him as Chief Minister.
The G6 wanted D’Souza to be named CM as he was senior to Parsekar. A recent tour of these six MLAs to Kerala sparked rumours of a split in the BJP.
