the goan I network
MARGAO
Terming the replacement of Ministers Francis D’Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar as an internal affair of the BJP, Goa Forward Chief and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai on Monday said that it is the endeavor of the regional party to ensure that the coalition government lasts the full five years term.
“We had formed the coalition government with much difficulty to serve the people of Goa for the full five-year term. It will be our endeavour to ensure that the government lasts a full five years,” Sardesai told the media.
He declined to further comment on the replacement of the two ministers, saying bringing changes in the Cabinet is the prerogative of the Chief Minister.
Moreover, he said the Chief Minister has not touched on the quota allocated for the Goa Forward party in the Cabinet.
Asked to throw light on the allocation of additional portfolios to the Cabinet Minister, the TCP Minister said that it is again the Chief Minister’s prerogative to allot the portfolios.
Sardesai, however, hastened to add that the Congress ought to be happy with the Chief Minister’s decision, saying the decision to replace the two Ministers with new faces indicates that there’s no move to dissolve the Legislative Assembly.
The Congress had gone to the town stating that Parrikar is moving fast to dissolve the Assembly.
“When Parrikar is bringing changes to his Cabinet, it
indicates there’s not going
to be mid-term polls,” he said, while saying the Congress should also be satisfied with the Chief Minister’s decision.
Asked to comment on BJP Chief Amit Shah’s decision not to replace the ailing Chief Minister Manohar for the moment, Sardesai said, “When the CM was indisposed and admitted into the Candolim hospital, a temporary arrangement was sought to be created. I and another five MLAs were opposed to any such arrangement as we wanted something permanent,” while making it clear that at no stage during the political developments did the Goa Forward ask for the removal of the CM.
“What Amit Shah had done is actually a vindication of our stand. Our letter of support clearly indicates that the support was for an individual and there’s never a question of we demanding his removal,” he added.
