The first signs of dissension within the ruling coalition have surfaced. Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar resigned as chairman of Goa Forest Development Corporation. Apparently Prasad has shown his resentment over not being rewarded with any plump department, like Nilesh Cabral’s GTDC which he has been eyeing. And like a true blue politico he chose to express his displeasure over the cabinet reshuffle terming it as a temporary solution and blamed the government for not supporting any development works proposed by his corporation.
It is obvious that the reshuffle has ruffled many more feathers in the coalition, including those within the BJP. While an uneasy calm prevails over the surface, hushed tones behind the scenes reflect a simmering discontent. Goa Forward supremo and G-6 leader Vijai Sardesai’s word of caution to the BJP leadership not to vitiate the atmosphere is a clear indication that the key ally in not in sync with the way the ministry is reshuffled.
Several questions have gone unanswered and the allies appear to be taken completely off guard in a reshuffle exercise effected from AIIMS where Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is being treated. Ironically, the dropped ministers were not even informed beforehand about the change despite the fact that these two legislators could sound a death knell to this feeble coalition, should they opt to quit as MLAs.
Moreover, by not involving the allies in zeroing down on consensus candidates to fill in for Pandurang Madkaikar and Francis D’Souza, the BJP has left several aspirants with a bitter taste in their mouth.
Take for example Calangute MLA and Dy Speaker Michael Lobo. The troubleshooter MLA who played a key role in stitching together this coalition was always tipped to be the first man in the queue. Known to be close to the taxi and tourism lobbies, Lobo is known to shower lavish praise on the CM for running the affairs of the State from even his hospital beds. It will come as a huge setback for Lobo to be ignored with such a strong foothold in the government.
Next on the line is BJP strongman from Bicholim Rajesh Patnekar, who until a few days back was in contention for taking over the leadership. The BJP leadership has not spelt out why Patnekar fell out of contention, but there is very little that the seasoned MLA can complain about. Ignoring the lone woman MLA Alina Saldanha from Mormugao taluka and preferring Milind Naik who hails from the same region also comes as a surprise.
All said and done, the coalition faces an uphill road from here when the Chief Minister will decide to allocate some of his key portfolios like finance and home. Vijai Sardesai and PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar may have had some close exchanges at Monday’s swearing-in, but they haven’t buried the hatchet yet. The government is facing initial tremors while an earthquake looms.
