the goan I network
PANAJI
A solution to the leadership crisis plaguing Goa’s ruling coalition government due to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s ailment and confinement to hospital is imminent and is expected to be announced and implemented in a day or two, the BJP’s Goa president and Rajya Sabha MP, Vinay Tendulkar said on Thursday.
Tendulkar, who returned from Delhi however did not confirm or deny whether the resolution package involved replacing Parrikar with a new chief minister.
He also declined to comment if the party’s leadership had zeroed down on continuing with the nominal leadership of Parrikar, albeit with him allocating the administratively and politically crucial portfolios of Home, Finance and General Administration among others, to Sudin Dhavalikar of the MGP and Vijai Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party.
“Whatever the decision may be, it is expected to be made public by Shah before this weekend,” Tendulkar said.
The Rajya Sabha MP together with Union Ayush Minister Shripad Naik and South Goa MP, Narendra Sawaikar, were party of the parleys held by Shah in his bid to tide over the political turbulence in Goa.
Sawaikar who also returned to Goa on Thursday, however, told The Goan that the party’s national president will take the final call in consultation with Parrikar.
The BJP, which heads the coalition government in Goa has for over a week been struggling to come up with a solution to the functional crisis caused by the long absence from office of Parrikar who has been battling a serious pancreatic ailment since February.
Fearing that the lack of effective governance due to Parrikar’s long absences and the constant criticism from the Opposition Congress party was beginning to adversely affect the party, Shah stepped in and deputed a team of observers led by General Secretary Ram Lal to Goa to explore alternatives.
The team which met with local party leaders, MLAs and also members of the coalition partners and supporting independents on Sunday last, however got caught in the melee of fierce political jockeying between Dhavlikar and Sardessai.
Sardesai queered the pitch further for the principal alliance party when he confronted the Central observers with a new grouping of six MLAs, his two party and cabinet colleagues Vinoda Paliencar and Jayesh Salgaonkar, besides the three Independents - Cabinet Ministers Rohan Khaunte and Govind Gaude and Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar.
The grouping of six virtually twitched the number dynamics in the 40-member House where the Opposition Congress has the largest strength of 16. The BJP has 14, but with three MLAs including Parrikar battling serious ailments in hospitals outside the State. The MGP has three and Churchill Alemao who claims to be ‘neutral’ is the lone NCP MLA.
The TCP minister’s move not only put paid to the proposal mooted by Parrikar to elevate Dhavalikar
as Deputy Chief Minister and give him charge, but also forced the hand of the saffron party to ensure a ‘permanent solution’ to the government’s functional paralysis which has begun to hurt the State.
Meanwhile, in a notable development on Thursday, two of the Congress’ 16 MLAs -- Jennifer Monserrate and Filipe Neri Rodrigues -- have flown overseas amid the current political fluidity. Both the Congress and the BJP have traded claims of possible floor-crossings by MLAs from the other side.
Congress sources however sought to downplay the travel abroad of Monserrate and Rodrigues. Both of them will return in 48-hours notice if the party needs them, the sources said. While Jennifer has flown to China, Filipe Neri has proceeded to Europe, both on pre-scheduled tours with the knowledge of the party, a senior party functionary said.
THE DELHI
CONNECTION
Tendulkar returns from Delhi, does not confirm or deny resolution package involves replacing Parrikar with a new chief minister
Declines to comment of top leaders had zeroed down on continuing with the nominal leadership of Parrikar
No clarity on allocating crucial portfolios of Home, Finance and General Administration among others, to Sudin Dhavalikar and Vijai Sardesai
Cong does not have numbers: Vishwajit
PANAJI: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Thursday stated that if the Congress was so sure it could prove its majority on the floor of the House, then it should be going to meet the Governor with 21, and not 16 MLAs. Slamming the Opposition for laying stake to government formation, Rane insisted that the BJP-led government was united under the leadership of Parrikar. >> See pg 3
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