the goan I network
MAPUSA
Deputy Speaker, Michael Lobo on Saturday said the merger of one of the two alliance partners -- MGP and Goa Forward Party -- with the BJP is one proposal that will be put up before the central observers expected to arrive in Goa on Sunday.
The aim is to increase its present number of MLAs from 14 to 17 and one way to achieve it was to urge one of the alliance partners to merge with the BJP, he said, adding that the strategy was deliberated upon by a group of MLAs and members of the party’s core committee.
“Once we increase the number of our MLAs to 17 we get a sense of stability being a party with the largest number of legislators. The modalities of the merger and the conditions of the alliance partner can be discussed by our central leadership, State core committee and the MLAs of the BJP,” Lobo told The Goan.
Lobo, however said this would be explored only depending on the health condition of Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar.
“If Manhoar Parrikar’s health improves then we don’t have to go through all this. If his health does not improve then we have to have Plan B with us,” he added.
In a bid to draw up a strategy to be placed before the central observers, a group of BJP legislators along with a section of the party’s core committee met in a city hotel Saturday evening.
Among the legislators present at the meeting were Pramond Sawant, Michael Lobo and Nilesh Cabral. From the BJP’s core committee Vice President, Datta Kholkar and General Secretary, Sadanand Tanavde and South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar were present.
Lobo said that the State BP unit has decided to present the option of merger of one of the alliance partners to the central observers who are expected to arrive in State on Sunday.
To a question, he said any one of the regional parties could merge with BJP and the second one support the government from outside.
“One of the parties merges with us and the other party supports us from outside plus the Independents…then we have the numbers,” he said.
The Calangute MLA said that everyone present at the meeting agreed that increasing the number of MLAs of the party was the best strategy.
He said the modalities of merger and the expectations of the merging party can be discussed with the central observers along with the core committee and the party’s 11 legislators.
“The observers who are coming tomorrow will talk to us and even with the merging party and see that all the conditions and our requirements are taken care of and all of us bind together,” he said.
Lobo said that with the support of three Independents and the other regional party the government becomes stable.
He said the status of the other regional party supporting the government from outside will not be disturbed and those who are ministers will continue in the Cabinet.
