TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai meets Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and claims he discussed administrative matters. All seems well. Vijai returns on a positive note saying Parrikar is working from home and there is no question of replacement. There is so much of contradiction in health updates of the CM and the functioning of administration that every statement is now taken with a pinch of salt.
Vijai’s positivity comes a day after Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte spit fire on governance. And this comes soon after the latter slammed the administration as non-functional. If it was Calangute MLA Michael Lobo who was outspoken and didn’t mince words against his government, here comes Khaunte with all guns blazing against the bureaucracy. He is the second leader in the coalition leveling a serious corruption charge against the bureaucracy. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, screamed Khaunte. A few weeks back Lobo demanded suspension of bureaucrats whom he labeled corrupt and wanted them jailed on charges of amassing wealth. If we go back in time, even Vijai too had a brush with bureaucrats over his file movement.
If we are to believe Vijai that Parrikar continues to be in command as leader of this government, then Parrikar and the CMO become direct targets of Khaunte’s charge. Parrikar’s leadership is being questioned and the Chief Minister’s Office is brought under disrepute. Charges of corruption by leaders in the government cannot be swept under the rug. If the bureaucracy is indeed playing the role of a de facto leader, the charges need to be thoroughly probed. And if Parrikar is indeed the leader, he should put this controversy to rest. If crucial files are stuck, there need to be questions raised and answers sought.
On the flip side, both Khaunte and Lobo need to explain these charges. Politicos cannot vent their frustration with vague public statements without justification. If Parrikar is in command, why are leaders not seeking redressal of issues from the CM himself? What stops them from sorting out issues within the government internally? The very fact that ministers and leaders are going open with serious charges against their own government indicates the level of frustration that has crept in. They need to come out with the truth and prove their allegations. It appears that the leaders are taking turns to pile up pressure. With the local BJP leadership virtually failing in trouble-shooting, what remains to be seen is where this constantly brewing resentment is headed.
While the government continues to be unpredictable like the English weather, a sense of chaos is felt from time to time. The administration was caught napping once again after the cabinet meeting was called off at the eleventh hour on Thursday. The reason given was some of the ministers are out of station. In normal course, the CMO is aware well in advance of travel details including itinerary and duration and the last-minute cancellation reflects carelessness.
