Team Herald
NEW DELHI/PANJIM: As consultations with Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah on the leadership issue in Goa on Wednesday remained inconclusive, the likelihood of the formation of a Cabinet Coordination Committee (CAC) has increased. Shah also consulted Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) but no immediate solution is in sight, party sources said.
They said Shah is worried that Congress may take advantage of the infighting that has begun among the coalition partners since an idea was floated to let senior minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) hold temporary charge as chief minister until Parrikar recovers.
A proposal sounded by BJP general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal to temporarily shift Union Ayush minister Sripad Naik to Goa as acting chief minister has also not found favour as BJP MLAs insist that only one of them be made chief minister. They also rejected the proposal of giving Dhavalikar temporary charge as head of a 3-member coordination committee to look after the administration unless his MGP merges into BJP.
Sources said Shah was not agreeable to give the command to any of them. Sources said the main reason for not appointing a new leader is that very few of the BJP MLAs come from the RSS background.
Speaking to Herald, BJP State president Vinay Tendulkar said the three MPs discussed the political situation with Shah and a solution would be announced as soon as possible. “We have brought to the notice of our BJP president Amit Shah the current political situation in the State. We discussed the issues of alliance partners like mining issue, creation of jobs,” Tendulkar said.
Tendulkar, however, rejected speculation of his name being discussed for the coveted post. “There was no talk of leadership change,” he said adding that all three MPs from Goa were present for the meeting.
Meanwhile, MGP reiterated its demand for handing over charge to the senior most minister, with party president Pandurang (Deepak) Dhavalikar saying that his party will support an alternative arrangement in the government only under the leadership of Parrikar.
Asked to comment on the probable appointment of Tendulkar as Chief Minister, Dhavalikar said, “Let BJP announce their decision first. We want the charge to be handed over to senior most minister until CM is fully fit,” he said.
In a related development, Congress sources said six MLAs who are part of the coalition government are in touch with the local Congress leaders to switch sides.
Congress has 16 MLAs and it can overthrow the government if these six MLAs come to its side. The Congress has already pressed the Goa Governor to summon the Assembly session and ask Parrikar to prove his majority.
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GFP non-committal on options
Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Forward Party is keeping its cards close to its chest, waiting for the political developments to unfold.
There is speculation that the party is in touch with the BJP if the Chief Minister’s post is given to its president Vijai Sardesai. There is also speculation that suggests the party is in touch with Congress to form an alternative government.
When contacted for his comments, Sardesai told Herald, he does not want to comment on ‘rumours’. “You are saying that these are rumours. And there have been so many rumours floating these days. We are not here to reply to all such rumours which are spread by irresponsible journalism and vested interests,” he said.
Sardesai said his party is there to ensure stability of the government and to ensure good governance. “We are here to find a permanent solution to Goa’s problem,” he said.
