PANJIM: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday ruled out transferring the leadership into the hands of any other coalition partner MLA. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by BJP National Secretary B L Santosh which was attended by a majority of the MLAs and office bearers.
“Santosh has informed us that there is no question of giving the leadership to any other party MLA. BJP has more MLAs. All of you, BJP MLAs stay united, he said. Don’t go by rumours,” Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo told the media after the meeting.
Union Minister for AYUSH (Independent Charge) Shripad Naik also clarified that there is no question of change in leadership and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s is responding well. “CM Parrikar is responding well to treatment and his health has improved much. There is no question of change in leadership in the State.”
BJP State President Vinay Tendulkar, speaking to the media, said that news of threats to government is completely false. “There is no threat to the Manohar Parrikar-led government. We have full faith in our coalition partners. News of threat to the government is all rumours and is completely false,” Tendulkar said.
There had been speculation of a change in leadership, and of even a MLA of one of the coalition partners being made the CM.
