PANJIM: Though the parivartan, promised by the BJP in its 2012 election manifesto, is yet to be seen, there has been one change or parivartan in political circles with relations between Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar getting strained.
From November last, when former chief minister Parrikar, was elevated to Defence Minister, there were allegations that he was running the State administration from Delhi.
Critics also said that the Raksh Mantri imposed himself on the State and dominated in such a manner that most files, including that of transfers of government officers, were cleared from Paryatan Bhavan in Panjim on weekends, when Parrikar flew in for a visit on Saturdays and Sundays.
There were allegations that the defence minister was running a parallel government in Goa and opposition politicos also said that Parsekar was being reduced to a puppet as far as running the State was concerned.
But, of late, there appears to be some change with Parsekar now learning to stand on his own and taking charge.
Sources in the government said that the process of getting the files cleared by the former chief minister has been minimised if not totally stopped.
Besides, Parsekar and his cabinet are now taking all the major decisions, unlike in past when the matters were first discussed with the defence minister and then taken to the cabinet.
“There is some kind of cold war brewing between the two now,” sources in the government say.
