the goan I network
MARGAO
The Goa Forward Party and its Chief Vijai Sardesai was the focus of attention with the merger of the 10-member group of Congress Legislators into the BJP on Wednesday, with questions being asked in political circles over the fate of the three GF Ministers in the Pramod Sawant-led government.
While sources said the Goa Forward Chief was in touch with BJP National President Amit Shah and local BJP leaders, Sardesai preferred to remain quite, saying he has nothing to do with the developments in the ruling party and the main opposition party.
He, however, said that he and his two Ministers, Jayesh Salgaocar and Vinod Palienkar are part of the coalition government given the fact that they are members of National Democratic Alliance (NDA). “I am still a member of the NDA and will continue to remain so till someone tells me that I am no more a member of the Alliance,” he added.
“The political developments have taken place in two political parties and he Goa Forward is not a party to these developments. These developments have taken place beyond my control. One party has broken up and the other party has benefitted from the break-up. The Goa Forward has nothing to do with these developments,, he added.
Sources said the deputy
Chief Minister as well as the Goa Forward leadership is closely watching the emerging developments with strong reports doing the rounds that
the all the three GF Ministers, including Sardesai, will be dropped from the Ministry.
Sources in the know say the BJP National president Amit Shah was believed to have spoken to the GF Chief and discussed the situation, ahead of the merger of the 10-member group into the ruling party. it could not be ascertained what transpired between the BJP National president and the Goa Forward Chief and whether any assurance was handed out to Sardesai that he would not be dropped from the Cabinet.
Sources further said that the Goa Forward Chief was also in close touch with state BJP leaders, including BJP Organising Secretary Satish Dhond.
What, however, must have as a big surprise to the Goa Forward leadership was the BJP’s decision to throw up the party doors to the 10-member group of MLAs, more so when party Chief Sardesdai had repeatedly gone to the town saying that BJP National President Amit Shah will not permit any more Congress MLAs into the ruling party.
In fact, while comparing the Congress MLAs as Monkeys, willing to jump to other parties, Sardesdai had said that the Congress MLAs will not be welcome into the ruling party, but the developments on Wednesday had proved otherwise, with the BJP throwing its doors wide open for the 10 Congress MLAs.
