PANAJI
The cat appears to finally be out of the BJP bag.
Dared by the Congress to hasten the government formation process, two BJP MLAs addressing a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Panaji on Friday said that caretaker Chief Minister Pramod Sawant would lead the new government, while adding that the formation of the new dispensation was delayed on account of the Holi and Shigmo festivities and that the new government would be in place within “four to five days”.
“Pramod Sawant will be leading the state once again and he will provide a stable government for five years,” newly elected BJP MLA from Sanguem Subhash Phaldesai told reporters at a press conference in Panaji.
Just hours earlier, former Chief Minister and Congress MLA Digambar Kamat had dared the BJP to hasten the government formation process, even suspecting something amiss in the BJP’s legislative team over the choice of chief minister.
Former Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude, who was also present at the press conference, also lashed out at the Congress for commenting on the government formation process.
“Congress does not have any right to speak on formation of government. People of Goa know the BJP government has been formed, only the formality of swearing-in is left. Newly elected MLAs are concerned about Goa and the government will be formed under the leadership of Sawant. Only a formal announcement is left,” Gaude said.
The reason for the delay in the formation of the government, Gaude said, was because of the Holi and Shigmo festivals which people were busy with.
“We decided to postpone the government formation process for a few days due to Holi and Shigmo festivities. We want people to be involved in the government formation process,” Gaude said.
Phaldesai also denied any rift within the BJP camp between Sawant and former Health Minister Vishwajit Rane.
“Speculation will keep on coming, even if we get a majority too... We are together. Visjwajit and everybody, all 20 MLAs are together or we may have had to stay in a hotel (like the Congress candidates),” Phaldesai said.
The Sanguem MLA also said that the BJP had managed to win one per cent more vote share, despite anti-incumbency, while stating that the Congress’ vote share had shrunk considerably.
“It is a decisive (mandate). 50 per cent of the MLAs belong to the BJP... Despite having ruled the state for 10 years, despite anti-incumbency, the people have given their vote to the BJP --
33.32 per cent vote share. In this election as compared to previous elections, our vote share has increased by one percent. Congress vote share, which was 26.90 per cent, dropped to 23.50 which shows complete mistrust of people of Goa in the party,” Phaldesai said.
He also said instead of being obsessed with the processes of the BJP over choosing a legislative party leader, the Congress should instead look to identifying leaders for the post of state president. Girish Chodankar who led the party into the failed election campaign has tendered his resignation after the debacle.
“Congress’ defeat was so bad that the national president had to demand the resignation of Girish Chodankar and heads of all states which went to polls in 2022,” Phaldesai said.
“I want to tell Digambar Kamat that you are a senior leader. When you say that the BJP cannot choose its leader, I ask you, have you been able to choose one yet, either in the assembly or in the party?” Phaldesai also said.
He said that the government would be formed in a sussegado manner. “’Sussegado’ meaning, within four to five days our government will be formed. It will be a stable government. It will be stable, performing, with good administration and one that is non-corrupt,” he said.
