Team Herald

MARGAO: Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai dismissed any likelihood of Vinod Palyekar being dropped as a minister to pave way for Michael Lobo to be inducted in the Cabinet and asserted that this issue has not even been discussed and hence there was no likelihood of it happening.

He pointed out that his Goa Forward Party is part of the National Democratic Alliance and that when the government was formed in Goa it was following discussions with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s national leadership or High Command.

“Yes Manohar Parrikar being a Goan was close to us but we had talks with the party high command and hence any decision now will have to be taken by the High Command with whom we are in constant touch,” he said.

Replying to a question he said decisions like dropping a minister cannot be taken by leaking information to selective sections and that such matters cannot be considered particularly when the assembly session is due.

He said that he and his party colleagues have a soft corner for Michael Lobo and “how that issue will be tackled is a different matter entirely.”