PANJIM: Ministers in the Manohar Parrikar-led coalition government have had a string of health related issues, since taking office in March 2017, leading to some of them being out of action.
In just 15 months of being in power, four MLAs from the ruling party, including the Chief Minister, are undergoing medical treatment for grave health problems. While Parrikar has been out of action for the last three months, his colleague and Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida is also not on the active since March. The latest to be hospitalised is Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar.
Soon after the elections, ill health issues came to haunt the ruling dispensation. Urban Development Minister Francis D’Souza was the first. D’Souza, who underwent a kidney transplant has often been flying abroad for treatment.
D’Souza, second in command in the BJP, is currently on a 20-day long visit to the Portugal. Sources claim he has gone for the check up there. The minister who has been active had earlier shown signs of ill health when he was escorted to the Assembly by family members or guards.
The biggest blow to the BJP came in the form of the Chief Minister’s illness, who was diagnosed with a pancreatic ailment in February, this year. On February 14, Parrikar was hospitalised after he complained of stomach pain. He was later shifted to Mumbai.
Parrikar is currently in the USA and his return date is yet to be announced, with the party giving renewed dates for his return. The Chief Minister has been clearing files from the USA.
While Parrikar’s health was being discussed, Vasco residents were shocked when their MLA and BJP leader Carlos Almeida suffered a mild attack. Almeida was first shifted to Manipal Hospital in Dona Paula and later taken to Kerala. Last month, the MLA returned home but has not been very active.
The latest to fall ill is Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar. A day after his department came for widespread criticism for keeping Tiswadi in darkness to please a builder, Madkaikar suffered a major brain stroke while in Mumbai. He was apparently pulled up by the Chief Minister over the power scenario. He is currently under observation after a surgery was performed on Tuesday morning.
The history of BJP MLAs falling ill can be tracked even during the tenure of Laxmikant Parsekar’s government. Then Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar and former WRD Minister Dayanand Mandrekar had taken ill, but managed to bounce back to health. Both had contested the 2017 elections, but lost.
Also, then Deputy Speaker Vishnu Wagh suffered a cardiac arrest in August 2016. Wagh was shifted to Mumbai in an air ambulance after doctors at Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) felt his condition could deteriorate and he needed specialist treatment. The former St Andre MLA is currently undergoing physiotherapy.
When contacted, former Union Law Minister and Law Commissioner Adv Ramakant Khalap said it is unfortunate that Ministers and MLAs are suffering from serious health issues of late. “Under such a situation, the ruling dispensation should take a call and rest such Ministers and MLAs. There is no Constitutional provision that speaks about health conditions of MLAs. It is for the government or ruling party to decide,” he said.
