GFP would have lost if people knew of tie-up

It’s exactly a fortnight now since Goa Forward Party mentor and TCP Minister rnVijai Sardesai teamed up with the BJP to form a new government under Manohar Parrikar. He, however, has repeatedly ducked the question as to whether GFP would have won the three seats, including Fatorda, if people were told of the party’s post-poll tie-up with the BJP. GFP founder president, Prabhakar Timble, who has quit the party over the political developments, has come out clear that GFP would not have won the seats, including Fatorda, if people knew that GFP would align with the BJP. Guilherme Almeida spoke to both Sardesai and Timble on this issue and demands raised in certain quarters that the Fatorda MLA should resign and seek a fresh mandate

The Goan NetworkPublished Mar 27, 2017, 6:13 PM IST

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Q You have quit the nascent party following the recent developments. Do you think Goa Forward party would have won in Fatorda, Saligao and Siolim if people were told the party would support the BJP?

Prabhakar Timble: I am of the firm opinion that Goa Forward would not have won the three seats of Fatorda, Siolim and Saligao if the party had to tell the people that the party will support the BJP in the formation of the new government. There were strong anti-BJP sentiments prevailing in the state and the Goa Forward party would not have won the three seats if the party had to go to the people that the party would sup

port the BJP. 

Q What about the Fatorda seat?

PT: I can say with confidence that people of Fatorda had voted for Vijai Sardesai as an individual. Vijai was looked upon by the people as a leader of the future. He was seen as a Goa figure. But, I still feel that Vijai would not have crossed the post if he or the GFP had declared that he would support the BJP after elections. As I have said earlier, there were strong BJP sentiments prevailing in the state and the situation would have made it difficult for Vijai to romp home to victory. He would have finished second in the race. 

Q It is said in political circles that the Goa Forward Party legislators acted in haste in supporting the BJP in the formation of the government.

PT: Yes, the GFP legislators acted in haste, for the simple reason that the party had gone to the people against the BJP. I know our party ideology is against any tie-up with the BJP. But we could have overcome this issue only in the event the Congress could not cobble up the numbers to form the government. 

Q Vijai has claimed that the Congress party would have never formed a government with the support of the Goa Forward party.

PT: I do not agree with this view. I feel that the Congress would have been forced to take GFP’s support to lend stability to the government. I agree that GFP would not have supported Luizinho Faleiro as the chief minister, but at the same time I was optimistic that a Congress government without Faleiro was possible.