TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Buoyed by the distinct possibility of the MGP-BJP alliance coming through, Manohar Parrikar made a significant personal snub at the Goa Vikas Party chief Mickky Pacheco by indirectly referring to him as “undesirable”.
In an interview to Herald, Parrikar answered questions mainly on the three main charges against him of arrogance, his self centric ways and his communal politics. However, the most significant political take away from the interview, was his decision not to take the support of the GVP in the event of the BJP falling short of majority and the GVP having a few seats to offer. “I will not work with undesirable elements. If the BJP does not get the required number of seats to form a government, I will opt out of the Chief Minister’s race, if forced to take the support of these elements”.
Asked why he felt the GVP was undesirable, Parrikar said “I need a free hand to run the government which cannot be blackmailed. However, that is my personal view and I am not binding the party to it since a government has to be formed to keep the Congress out of power”.
He was completely open to the MGP though “We are confident of having an alliance with the MGP and happy to work with the Dhavalikar brothers.”
Interestingly, the Leader of the Opposition has also indicated that he is willing to do some backchannel business with the GVP before the polls. “If there are some seats where we have less chances and the GVP is in a position to defeat the Congress, we will not come in the way.”
On the vexed issue of his alleged differences with North Goa MP Sripad Naik regarding the Porvorim seat, Parrikar said that the decision has to be taken by the Central parliamentary board. “I have no power to block him and there is no harm in two power centers but MLAs will decide who will be the next CM.”
