Team Herald
PANJIM: The two-day consultation by the BJP Central observers in Goa with their party MLAs, senior leaders and alliance partners culminated on Monday, with the scene shifting to Delhi, where party national president Amit Shah will take a final call on the leadership crisis.
BJP leaders maintain that there is no leadership crisis in the government; even as the coalition partners await an alternative from the party.
A decision on the leadership, whether permanent or temporary, is likely to come in the next few days. The allies – Goa Forward Party and Independents have demanded a permanent solution to the crisis, while MGP is of the view that the charge be handed over to the senior most MLA till Parrikar returns.
After holding a series of meetings with MLAs and the allies on Sunday, BJP’s three-member team comprising National general secretaries B L Santhosh, Ram Lal and Goa in charge Vijay Puranik on Monday met the party’s core committee that included former MLAs, to take stock of the political situation.
Emerging from the meeting, Lal said that the party discussed the political situation in the State and also about the preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. “All the MLAs, ex-MLAs, office-bearers, core group members were present for the meeting. Everyone has given their opinion which would be shared with the leaders in Delhi and a decision which is good in the interest of the State will be taken,” he said.
Lal said that the alliance partners have conveyed that they are with the government and will accept whatever decision BJP takes. “I cannot say as by when the decision will be taken. It is up to the party leaders in Delhi,” he stated.
He, however, ruled out a leadership change in the State. “No one has placed a demand of leadership change before me. Government is stable,” he said. Lal also said that there is no proposal for the merger of any of the parties. “There is no proposal for merger. If they want to give any proposal then they will give,” he commented.
Hours after the BJP emissaries left for Delhi, GFP has said that they appreciate the swift action by BJP National president to depute senior leaders in the State to hear the partners in government.
GFP president Vijai Sardesai said that during the discussion with the BJP emissaries, GFP and Independents told them that “whatever they are doing should be permanent and there should not be ad-hoc basis.”
“We appreciate swift action of BJP National President to depute senior leaders to hear us in Goa. This reflects the concern that the BJP National president has for small state like Goa, which is deserving and appreciated,” he said.
“We are awaiting future course of action as now all the pros and cons of the situation is well known to BJP national leadership,” Sardesai said adding that his party is with Parrikar and there is no question of they supporting anybody else. “We are not talking to anyone, neither anybody is talking to us,” he added.
On the other hand, MGP also said that they are waiting for a “common solution on current political situation in Goa”.
MGP President Deepak Dhavalikar said that the solution for the current crisis needs to be worked out by BJP as they are the single largest party in the government. “This is a coalition government but the decision has to be taken by the BJP because they are the largest party in this government. We are waiting for a common solution on the current situation, which BJP will give us,” Dhavalikar said.
The MGP president said his party has not given any specific proposal on a leadership change because the post for Chief Minister is not vacant. “Chief Minister post is not vacant as Manohar Parrikar has not resigned as yet and hence there is no question of leadership change,” he said.
“But, yes, we have told them that if they are considering it, then the charge should be given to the senior most MLA in the ruling and our demand stands even now,” he said.
Dhavalikar said that whatever solution BJP will provide in the current political situation should be in sync with the request of the allies.
