An administration collapse and a leadership crisis continue to dodge the state which currently is in a state of political chaos. If MGP says that Vijai Sardesai is okay with PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar taking over the reins of power from chief minister Manohar Parrikar, the TCP Minister responds saying that it’s a hypothetical situation. If there is talk of Delhi BJP bosses restraining Parrikar from relinquishing charge before his visit to AIIMS, Delhi, there is also talk of the chief minister refusing to let go. And then there are endless stories of an administration collapse and bureaucratic mismanagement. Where does all this end?
BJP leaders are striking a defiant chord and are holding cards close to their chest. A leadership change at this point of time is out of the equation. The BJP is only buying time till December 11 when the results of five states going to polls in November-December will be announced. The Congress, which is ruling in Mizoram, is trying to wrest power from the BJP in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Much will depend on these results and the BJP will be forced to re-strategize its Goa politics. A sweep in these states may propel them to bring down the curtains on the coalition government and seek dissolution, a possibility which weighs heavily at the back of the minds of the allies.
On the other hand, losses in these five states will force the BJP to tread cautiously and seek rapprochement with partners in government. It is only in such a scenario that the possibility of conceding the chief ministership to allies may become a reality.
For now, the thought of any consensus leader to
replace Manohar Parrikar only remains a theoretical proposition. The BJP is not in a position to relinquish the hot seat to any of the coalition partners for fear of losing control.
On the other side of the fence, the voices demanding Parrikar’s resignation have steadily died down. Despite civil society and NGOs joining hands with RTI activist Rajan Ghate against Parrikar’s leadership, the agitation lacked any steam to unsettle the BJP. The sheer reflection of disunity within the Congress was visible despite GPCC president Girish Chodankar putting up a brave front.
The tone and tenor of Pratapsing Rane sums it all when he says “Parrikar handing over charge is an internal matter. Whatever is to be said, I’ll say it in the assembly.” The Congress failed to take this issue forward despite the fact that they were fortunate to have the enemy within the coalition with over half-a-dozen disgruntled legislators. The very fact that the grand old party failed to muster the numbers even from the constituencies they represented tells the story. With Ghate calling off his fast and Chodankar’s one-day fast going unnoticed, the announcement to go to the people’s court was the best way to wriggle out of the situation.
