MAPUSA
In the midst of a political hurricane between Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane and Leader of Opposition Michael Lobo over the Outline Development Plan (ODP) issue and controversial land conversions, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday weighed in with two bits of his own wisdom.
Reacting to the simmering and seemingly unending conflict between the two lawmakers, one of whom is a senior member of his cabinet and the other a former BJP Minister, Sawant made a pitch for stability in the State in order to attract investors, even as the Chief Minister expressed willingness to step into the tussle at the opportune time.
“Investors should invest in Goa. And those who want to invest want stability. We want development in the State. Government will take a decision by taking all the ministers into confidence,” Sawant said.
The Chief Minister’s comment comes on the heels of weeks-long conflict between Lobo and Rane over the latter’s alleged questionable land conversion deals and Outline Development Plans in the state, which The TCP Minister has described as dubious.
Sawant’s pitch for “stability” also indicates that confidence of investors, especially in the real estate sector, may be shaken by the series of unending twists and casual making and unmaking of land regulation policies. Incidentally, Rane’s harsh questioning of the manner in which ODPs were formed are related to the past tenure of Pramod Sawant as chief minister.
Asked to comment on the possibility of more Congress MLAs joining the BJP, Sawant said: “We don’t need anyone at the moment. And since we have a government at the Centre, nobody will create any dis-stability. We will complete the full term,” he said.
The BJP-led coalition government currently enjoys the support of 20 party MLAs, two MLAs from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and three Independent MLAs.
Sawant however said that it was not completely up to him to decide on any fresh inductions.
“But it is a party decision… I am running the government, party decides who comes in or not...,” he added, when prodded further.
