the goan I network
MARGAO
Key alliance partner and leader of the G-6, Goa Forward supremo Vijai Sardesai on Tuesday sounded a note of caution to the major coalition partner, BJP not to take any steps which vitiates the atmosphere and rock the boat, even as he insisted there’s no threat to the coalition government post-induction of new Cabinet Ministers or resignation by Sanguem MLA, Prasad Gaonkar.
The TCP Minister also supported Sanguem MLA Prasad Goankar on his decision to quit the Chairmanship of Forest Corporation, saying the MLA is justified in taking the decision given that the government and the bureaucracy had failed to support the initiatives of the Chairman.
The Goa Forward Supremo’s veiled warning to the BJP local and Central leaders not to take steps that would rock the boat has come against the backdrop of reports that the decision to replace Francis D’Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar has not gone down well within the BJP and outside.
Sardesai’s stand has also come at a time when the G-6 had supported Prasad Gaonkar’s claim on the Chairman of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC). Sources in the know said the G-6 leader had also spoken to the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar after Gaonkar had staked claim for the GTDC Chairmanship, but Parrikar was believed to have had sought some time to resolve the GTDC Chairmanship imbroglio.
While the Goa Forward and the G-6 have maintained that effecting changes in the Cabinet is the prerogative of the Chief Minister, they, however, have raised eyebrows over the question of dropping both Francis D’Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar and whether it would have any bearing on the government’s stability since the decision has ruffled many a feather in the saffron camp.
The TCP Minister reminded that the coalition partners had come together to provide a stable government which would bring development in the State with a cooperative and supportive Centre.
“No doubt, the state has witnessed a good number of developmental projects with funds pumped in by the Centre. But, what I say is that no step, which can be avoidable, should be taken by the major coalition partner, which would unnecessarily vitiate the atmosphere and rock the boat”, Sardesai said.
While saying he has nothing against the induction of the two news Ministers in the Cabinet, Sardesai wished both Nilesh Cabral and Milind Naik all the very best.
On Prasad Gaonkar’s resignation from the post of Chairmanship of Forest Development Corporation, Sardesai said that many projects mooted by the Chairman did not take off because of the bureaucracy and red tape. “We had mooted a floriculture Estate at Sulcorna-Sanguem on a vast track of land. The government had promised land admeasuring 100 acres for the project, but after seven months, the government maintained that the land is a private forest”, Sardesai said, adding “the delay may have occurred because of communication issues with the Chief Minister down with sickness or because of bureaucratic red tape”.
