the goan I network
PANAJI
Senior Congress leaders on Saturday indicated that the party has virtually decided to defer beyond the impending Lok Sabha elections any ‘action’ to fulfill its quest to seize power and exact political revenge for being ‘robbed of the mandate’ it had won at the 2017 assembly elections in Goa.
The possibilities of dissolution of the House and harassment of potential allies by the Bharatiya Janata Party using central agencies if serious efforts at government formation are attempted right away, are being cited for the decision.
Former chief minister Digambar Kamat, who addressed a press conference to react to Friday’s Union budget said, everyone from the ruling side fears retribution with the BJP government at the Centre.
“Anything can happen with BJP in power at the Centre. Everyone has seen what happened in Jammu & Kashmir. That’s why ruling coalition members are afraid. Until the political situation is ripe, no one will be willing to attempt a regime change. No individual wants his legislative term to be cut short,” Kamat, who was flanked by Curtorim MLA, Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco and ex-Union minister Ramakant Khalap, said in response to reporters who asked him whether the Congress was in talks with ruling coalition members to seize power.
Kamat opined that the political situation at present is not practical for any of the allies to walk out of the ruling coalition.
“A call on who we will take on board will be taken when an opportune political situation arises. In politics, when the time is right, anything can happen,” Kamat said, indicating that the Congress is open to tying up with any of the supporting parties.
Kamat, who is the only chief minister to complete a five-year term in post-Statehood political era, however shied away from responding directly to a specific question whether the Congress will accept TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai-led Goa Forward Party as an ally for government formation.
“Me saying something (on Vijai) will be construed with multiple meanings. We will take a decision at the appropriate time,” Kamat said.
Khalap, meanwhile claimed that the Congress is ready to form the government, but recalled that even with numbers being favourable power eluded the party with a biased Governor.
Dwelling on the numerical strength in the Assembly, Khalap said, although the Congress strength declined from 17 to 14, three BJP legislators were also all but out of the equation due to serious ailments.
Reginaldo: Parrikar should take
a call on giving up charge
PANAJI: Curtorim MLA, Aleixo Reginald Lourenco said it is for Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar himself to take the call whether or not he should continue with the status-quo or hand over charge to someone else and concentrate on his health.
“What should I say. Everybody saw the performance in the Assembly. If you are sick, take care of yourself. But the chaos in the treasury benches with ministers rising out of turn to answer Opposition queries is not what Goa deserves,” Lourenco said.
