TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Strong rumours of Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza’s reported shift to Rajasthan as Governor seem to have been quelled with Chief Minister Laximkant Parsekar saying D’Souza is needed in Goa and the State cannot afford another by-poll at this time. D’Souza also threatened to opt for voluntary retirement from politics, if he was moved out of Goa.
The development has been stalled, at least temporarily, with Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar assuring the BJP Karyakarta Convention on Wednesday evening, that D’Souza is wanted in Goa.
“We don’t want another by-election. We want him (D’Souza) in Goa,” Parsekar said, ahead of party candidate Sidharth Kunkolienkar filing his nomination for the Panjim by-poll.
Responding to media question before the convention, the deputy chief minister told a section of the media that he was ‘surprised’ over the supposed
decision to move him out of Goa, while quickly adding that he would take voluntary retirement to enjoy time with his family instead.
“I don’t know who wants me out (of Goa). It is a surprise to me and many others. I would (rather) take voluntary retirement and have fun in my house with my family,” he said.
D’Souza went on to add that anything is possible in politics. “I work a lot, meet people, and hear their grievances. This is my daily routine,” he said.
Meanwhile, Parsekar reeled out a long list of schemes and reliefs released by the BJP during its present stint in government as he urged Panjimites to vote for Kunkolienkar. In an attempt to woo voters, he stated that Panjim residents have done a huge favour to the saffron party by voting the BJP to power in Panjim constituency for the last five terms.
Bragging that Panjim’s former MLA has been inducted in the Union Cabinet (referring to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar), he also maintained that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision is on the lines with that of the Panjim voters.
