Team Herald
PANJIM: The move by Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the three Independents, to jointly meet the BJP national observers, who were down in Goa to discuss the prevailing political crisis, appears to have created some unrest in the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) camp, who questioned why they we not invited.
BJP’s three-member team held a series of meetings on Sunday and Monday to discuss the political situation that has arisen due to the ill health of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. On Sunday, the leaders met with BJP MLAs and allies partners – GFP, MGP and three Independents.
The showstopper moment was when GFP president Vijai Sardesai walked in with his two MLAs – Vinod Palyekar and Jayesh Salgaonkar – and three Independent MLAs – Rohan Khaunte, Govind Gawade and Prasad Gaonkar – who together pressed for a permanent solution as opposed to MGP’s proposal to hand over charge to the senior most MLA, who is Ramakrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar.
Speaking to media persons, MGP MLA and Tourism Minister Manohar Azgaonkar questioned why the MGP MLAs were not invited by GFP and the Independents. “It is a coalition government and we all are united. We all are alliance partners. Why only they six went? They should have invited us also,” he said.
“We all should have gone together. We all had extended support to BJP together. We should have unitedly put our views before the BJP leaders,” he added.
Azgaonkar also said that Sardesai had objected to their proposal that in the absence of the Chief Minister, the charge be handed over to the senior most MLA. “Our proposal still stands. But GFP and its leader have objected to it. They have even told the BJP leaders,” he said.
The Pernem MLA, however, said that the political equations in the State will change the moment, Parrikar resigns as Chief Minister. “For now, Parrikar is our leader. The moment he resigns, the political equations will start taking shape. We all allies will have discussions amongst us,” he said.
