Chief Minister (CM): I have done nothing and I did not start this mission. It was started by those who supported us, but the picture being painted in the media is that I am the mastermind of all this. In fact, they demanded that I be made the chief minister, if they are to extend support to us. My party agreed to their demand and sent me in Goa. For me, it was a bonus to return in Goa.
TG: But were you not at the centre stage of political developments in Goa?
CM: One thing is clear, if I were not to return to Goa, this government would not have been formed and everyone knows what would have happened. I do not have any political or individual ambition, I have transcended these desires. It was my inner urge to promote the integrated development of Goa. But due to a mining ban and my movement to Delhi, I could not do pursue my goals. But I will now work to achieve them.
TG: How has been your journey from chief minister to defence minister and then, back to chief minister?
CM: In 2012, when I started working as chief minster, there were political compulsions due to a mining ban and so, I could not do what I had set out to do. In the meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted me to be his defence minister. He was on the lookout for someone who had sincerity and had integrity. Hence, he called me to Delhi.
I have done a lot of work in Delhi, but I could not enjoy working in Delhi not due to political reasons, but due to my physical and mental health.
TG: What were your difficulties in Delhi?
CM: I had health issues and found it difficult to manage with my food patterns. Besides, I was unable to take my relatives there, so there was the issue of sentimental factors. Leaving loved ones home was difficult for me and I was lonely in Delhi. It was as if I was in jail.
My ministry was such that there was little contact with public. When one works as defence minister, he cannot mingle with the people. This disturbed and stressed me a lot.
When my party asked me to consider going to Goa, I felt it was a big bonus.
TG: Do you think that BJP’s inability to form a majority in Goa came to your rescue, since you longed to return to Goa?
CM: There is no doubt about my happiness in returning to Goa, but it does not mean that I had earlier decided to return to Goa. I was unhappy about the party’s debacle in the elections and I would liked to have returned to Goa under better circumstances for the party.
TG: So, what is your view about the election results?
CM: I was expecting better performance from the BJP. I had never expected that we would get only 13 seats. I was packing my bag to return to Delhi after the results, when I started receiving messages from other political parties. They were prepared to support us only if I would come back to Goa as chief minister. It was their condition.
TG: How were you so sure of forming the government?
CM: See, those parties which came to us did not join hands with the Congress, as the Congress would have provoked infighting between the four independent MLAs and six MLAs of two parties. They (Congress) have done it before and they would have formed different groups, while keeping others away.
Luizinho Falerio, Digamber Kamat and Ravi Naik have done this and everyone know it. It is for these reasons that the independent MLAs and six MLAs of two parties did not go to the Congress.
TG: It is said you become chief minister by political maneuvering and you may be in a position to complete your full term.
CM: One cannot blame me for that. When I became chief minister for the first time, I dissolved the assembly and I faced elections. When I became CM for the second time, the then governor intervened. When I became chief minister for the third time, prime minister called me to Delhi. I did not go to Delhi on my own and the people of Goa should not draw their own inferences.
TG: Are you ready to have Goa Assembly elections along with Lok Sabha elections in 2019?
CM: I want to run this government for a full five-year term and I do not want to create controversies. I have already said that I am a servant of my party and given my health issues, I don’t want any kind of tension.
TG: Do you have enough majority or would you still need some support?
CM: We have sufficient majority. I have always said that in an alliance government, 21 or 22 MLAs are enough for a majority. If there are 23-24 MLAs, then instability begins and you cannot fulfill everyone’s aspirations. If the number goes to 25, the process of downfall begins. Churchill Alemao has supported us, but has not given us his letter of support.
TG: Is any new MLA ready to join you?
CM: I don’t need any one right now. I am not at all interested in breaking the Congress. I have set a target to give good governance to the people of Goa. On Thursday, one Congress MLA resigned and he was under anxiety for 2-3 days. Digvijaya Singh must answer as to why this MLA resigned within three hours of taking oath as MLA. It only means that something is wrong with the Congress.
TG: There is talk that Parrikar will finish Vajay Sardessai politically. Is this true?
CM: I have never tried to finish those who came with me. We have to go with those who come to us. Sudin and Vijay are with me because they have confidence in me.
TG: What are you immediate future plans?
CM: I have started reviewing all infrastructure projects in progress and I will give stress on overall development.
