Is BJP in deeper trouble after cabinet rejig?

PANJIM: Even five days after the cabinet reshuffle in the State, the storm after the Chief Minister’s decision to replace two ailing ministers with new faces has refused to die down. On the contrary, the silence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and other BJP bigwigs has added fuel to fire. The very day the chief minister decided to drop Francis D’Souza, who is in US for treatment and Pandurang Madkaikar, who is in Mumbai after brain surgery, their kin expressed anger at not being taken into confidence. The former Urban Development Minister has even threatened to quit the BJP core committee saying “he does not need any post from the party”.Similarly, Madkaikar’s wife Janita also appeared upset as the party did not take her or husband into confidence and party president Vinay Tendulkar had to visit the constituency and pacify the supporters. The same day on Monday the taxi owners association threatened to hold an agitation across the State if Dy Speaker Michael Lobo, one of the front runners for the vacancy, was not inducted into the Cabinet. “There are about 20,000 taxi operators and if Lobo is not given a ministry we will hold an agitation and work against BJP,” North Goa Tourist Taxi Association secretary Vinayak Nanoskar told Herald. The next day, Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar, an Independent, resigned as chairman of the Forest Development Corporation. He is eyeing a cabinet berth or the GTDC chairmanship, a corporation that could be vacated by Nilesh Cabral who has got into the cabinet.His supporters have now threatened that if he is not given the Goa Tourism Development Corporation or a ministry they would work against the BJP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. “We will hold an agitation and stop water supply to entire South Goa which depends on Selaulim dam for water,” Sanjay Shirodkar, one of his supporters said. If this was not enough, Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar has also thrown his hat into the ring saying the people of Bicholim expected ‘good news’. “The people of BIcholim expected that a ministerial berth is given. It’s now up to party president Vinay Tendulkar to come here and settle the anger,” he said. Similarly, Aldona MLA Glenn Ticlo also said that he expected the ministry as he has never demanded anything from the chief minister. “People are extremely upset,” he said. For now the cabinet rejig, seems to have thrown up more questions than answers. People, internally and outside, are agitated and the party has no answers.Speaking to Herald, Tendulkar said the decision to drop the two minister was a well thought one and taken after deliberations and discussions. “Appointing ministers is prerogative of the chief minister and the party and we have given it a long thought before dropping the two ministers and appointing two new,” Tendulkar told Herald, adding “there were other names discussed too but you cannot appoint everyone”. On D’Souza’s outbursts over dropping, he said, “This is the initial reaction. It is a natural reaction once he come cools down he will understand the compulsions. D’Souza is a senior leader and I am sure he would definitely understand the situation.”