Hectic political activity after CM’s condition turns ‘critical’

Team Herald

PANJIM: Reports of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar taking critical sent political parties and groups into a huddle, with the Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs finally pitching for a new leader from its group of MLAs.

With the news breaking just before noon that Parrikar, who is suffering from pancreatic cancer, the Chief Minister’s Office was quick to clarify on social media that the CM was stable.

“With respect to some reports in media, it is hereby stated that honourable Chief Minister @manoharparrikar’s health parameters continue to remain stable,” the CMO tweeted, however, this did not stop the speculation floating around.

Political groups in tizzy

With the development, Congress moved first and asked Governor Dr Mridula Sinha for an appointment for staking claim to form the government.

Meanwhile, the BJP State organising secretary Satish Dhond met the Governor which further added to the suspense. Sources told Herald that Dhond met the Governor to explain the political scenario. “Dhond also told the Governor that the BJP has a leader ready to take over in case of any eventuality,” sources said.

In the meanwhile, the BJP also called for an emergency meeting to discuss the political situation. In no time, the Group of Six, consisting of three Goa Forward MLAs, Independents Rohan Khaunte, Govind Gaude and Prasad Gaonkar, reached the CM’s residence at 6.30 pm in a virtual show of strength.

MLAs pitch for BJP CM

All the MLAs as well as the party leaders were unanimous in their opinion that the next chief minister should be from the BJP. Sources said the name of Pramod Sawant was proposed by some MLAs but a final decision wasn’t taken.

Except for Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, who also is a contender for CM’s post and Pandurang Madkaikar, all other BJP MLAs were present.

Sources revealed that considering the current political developments, the BJP has asked its MLAs not to move out of the State.

Tendulkar denies but Pramod, Lobo admit CM’s condition critical 

Even though the BJP top leadership denied that the CM’s health is critical, Speaker Pramod Sawant and Dy Speaker Michael Lobo admitted that “all is not well”.

“This was actually a party meeting on by-poll and LS polls. Tomorrow the Central Election Committee is meeting and hence we decided to meet,” BJP State Unit president Vinay Tendulkar said emerging from the meeting.

Contrary to Tendulkar’s statement, Speaker Pramod Sawant said, “CM’s condition is not well, and even we know. We haven’t gone there as nobody was allowed to meet. Our party leaders State organising committee and other office bearers who went there have told us the condition is really not well.” 

Dy Speaker Michael Lobo also said that CM is quite sick. “CM’s condition is bad. We do not know what it is as we haven’t met him but he is not on life support as reported by some people,” he said.

Asked whether Dhond met the Governor for dissolution, he replied, “There is no question of dissolution. Today coalition partners have gone to see him and I think dissolution is not in anybody’s favour.” 

Ayush Minister Shripad Naik, Satish Dhond, Dattaprasad Kholkar and Sanjeev Desai were also present for the meeting.