Asserting that the talk of dissolution of the Goa Legislative Assembly was a bogey, Goa Forward Chief and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai on Friday conveyed a message loud and clear to the opposition Congress and the ruling dispensation that majority of the ministers in the Manohar Parrikar Cabinet were against dissolution of the House.
The Goa Forward Party chief further reminded that the party MLAs have won the elections after fighting against the BJP and are ready to fight them again if required.
This is perhaps the first time that the leader of the key alliance partner has gone to the public stating that majority of the ministers are not in favour of the dissolution of the House.
He made it clear to all and sundry that dissolution of the Assembly has to be okayed by a majority of the cabinet ministers. The TCP Minister’s forthright comment on the Assembly dissolution assumes significance given the fact Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had dissolved the House by during his previous stint in office, a decision which had kicked up a row with when some of the ministers protesting against the decision saying they were not taken into confidence by Parrikar before taking the decision.
“How can the proposal for dissolution of the House get the cabinet nod when majority of the ministers are opposed to it?” Sardesai asserted.
He, however, hastened to add that Parrikar has been on record that there will be no dissolution of the House, adding that BJP leader and MP Narendra Sawaikar had stated in clear terms against it. “I don’t understand the logic of dissolution being talked by the opposition Congress when the government has a clear majority and when the coalition partners are not disturbing the government. It appears the Congress has a plan to put fear in the MLAs about the dissolution,” he said.
Saying that the regional parties don’t fear anyone, Sardesai said, “We are in a post-poll alliance. We had fought against the Congress and the BJP. We have not won the elections with the support of the BJP. And, we are ready to fight them if required.” But when you are in a
coalition government, you have to show an united face, he added.
On the coming Lok Sabha poll, the GFP chief said the regional party will not field a candidate, saying it is not interested in national politics.
On the bypolls for Mandrem and Shiroda constituencies, the TCP Minister said a section of the bureaucracy is of the firm opinion that the bypolls should be held with the ensuing Lok Sabha polls to avoid the by-election dates with the school exams and the election code of conduct.
He further said the bureaucracy is also of the opinion that the if the two elections are held together, the result of the bypolls should be declared before the LS result.
