RUPESH SAMANT
PANJIM: Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar didn’t take too much time to extract himself from the shadow of the Parrikar banyan tree, to pitch himself as the face of the party that would take the BJP to the assembly polls in 2017. In an interview to HCN, the TV channel of the Herald group, he said that the BJP’s victory in the 2012 elections was “collective” and reminded this reporter that he was the president of the BJP during the last elections and “in other states, the party presidents get the priority to become the chief minister”.
“Time will decide who will be the face of party for 2017 elections. Since I am chief minister definitely I will be the face. I have to get the party elected to the power. I have got only two-and-half years,” Parsekar told HCN in an exclusive interview soon after taking over as chief minister of the State.
“I have only one-and-half year at hand, because the last one year in the run up to the polls is always marked with protests and unnecessary issues raised by the opposition. So I have to prove my capability in the next one-and-half year, getting my party ready for the polls,” the chief minister said.
Stating that the victory of BJP during 2012 polls was collective, Parsekar said that Parrikar was projected as a face during the election campaign, but the election was fought by the party.
The chief minister continued “If I had to pitch in for the post of chief minister along with Parrikar, then the party would not have succeeded. I would have been busy selecting candidates who will support me after the polls. But that never happened. So my role was also favourable for the party to win the 2012 polls. The elections were won unitedly.” He almost rubbished the established belief that Parrikar single handedly led BJP to victory in the assembly polls.
Responding to a question, he said that it would be immature to comment on whether BJP would fight the upcoming polls of 2017 in alliance with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP). “By 2017 my party will be strong so that it can contest all the constituencies on its own and win them.”
Parsekar who has announced that he would distribute the portfolios by this weekend today said that he would retain the mining and town and country planning departments, which were earlier with Parrikar.
The chief minister said that he will run the government under the guidance of his predecessor Parrikar for the next few months, but would naturally have his own views towards the issues, and won’t depend on him (Parrikar) alone for decision making.
When asked whether Goa will have two chief ministers, Parsekar quipped, “No Sir, There will be only one CM. I also have a vision for the state. We will superimpose my vision with his (Parrikar),” he added.
Parsekar admitted that the ministers subordinate to Parrikar were not studying their portfolios properly, relying completely on the chief minister to take the final call. “When Parrikar was the chief minister, we were not studying the portfolios properly. Sometimes we did not have the grip. Now when I am chief minister, the ministers will get freedom and independence to work in their departments.”
