BROUHAHA DURING
THE CM'S ABSENCE
>> Congress launched a wave of criticism saying Parrikar repeated absence from the State without handing over charge was paralyzing governance
>> It also went to the extent of demanding that the Governor Mridula Sinha step in to dismiss the Parrikar-led coalition government and impose President's Rule
------------------------------------------------------------------
PANAJI: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is expected to return back to Goa from the United States on Thursday evening.
BJP sources said, Parrikar is expected to arrive in Mumbai on Thursday afternoon on a flight from New York with an ETA (expected time of arrival) of 3.45 pm. He will then take an onward domestic flight to Goa, the sources added.
Parrikar's sudden departure within 48 hours of returning from follow-up treatment at New York's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, had sent Goa's political class into a tizzy for almost two weeks since August 25.
It also triggered speculation that Parrikar would step down on medical grounds which further led to a flurry of public political posturing by all sides.
The Opposition Congress launched a wave of criticism saying Parrikar repeated absence from the State without handing over charge was paralyzing governance. It also went to the extent of demanding that the Governor Mridula Sinha step in to dismiss the Parrikar-led coalition government and impose President's Rule.
Congress spokesperson and former Union minister Ramkant Khalap cited the administrative impasse because of Parikar's absence and that of two other ministers - Francis D'Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar - to make the demand for the government's dismissal.
Parrikar and his two cabinet colleagues, collectively oversee portfolios and departments which account for a significant portion of the State budget, Khalap had said.
The BJP on the other hand dismissed the Congress criticism and ruled out any change in leadership in Goa.
During Parrikar's latest absence from Goa, the two principal political parties also made claims and counter-claims of MLAs crossing or attempting to floor-cross after reports by non-credible blogs that former chief minister Digamber Kamat and two other MLAs were poised to switch sides got widely circulated on social media platforms. Kamat, however, has rubbished the reports as 'fake news'.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three BJP MLAs
approached to
join Cong: Sopte
PANAJI: Mandrem MLA Dayanand Sopte on Wednesday claimed that three MLAs of BJP had approached the Congress to join the party. He, however, declined to name the MLAs. Dismissing rumours of a possible split in the Congress, Sopte told journalists at a press conference at the Congress House in Panaji that, the BJP was behind spreading baseless rumours because the ruling party itself was on the verge of a split.
"From the time I got elected as Congress MLA in 2017, there have been reports that I will cross-over. But I am here sitting in front of you," Sopte told the media.
Sopte was an MLA of the BJP from the former Pernem constituency in the 2007-12 term of the Assembly. In 2012, he lost out on a party ticket to former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar after the Delimitation amalgamated Pernem and Mandrem into a single constituency. He fought on a Congress ticket but lost to Parsekar in 2012 but avenged the defeat in the 2017 polls.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Show of solidarity: Cong to use Rafale rally to fire at BJP camp
MARGAO: Against the backdrop of rumours that senior party leaders, including former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat are bracing up to quit the party, the Congress is bracing up to take the ongoing battle to the enemy camp via the Rafael fighter jets.
While the Congress had drawn up plans for countywide agitation against the NDA’s defense deal with France over the Rafael fight jets on September 7-8, the Goa unit of the party is planning to utilize the opportunity to shut the mouths of people spreading rumours on the imminent break up of the party in the state.
Sources in the Congress say the party leadership will invite all the party MLAs for the two rallies to the respective Collectorates on September 7 and 8 with their supporters. Party insiders say the march at he South and North Goa Collectorates will not exactly be a show of strength, but the platform will be utilized to send out a clear signal to the enemy camp that the Congress is united.
In South Goa, where the Party’s Rafael march is scheduled on Friday, party leaders are giving final touches to the agitation as they expect party MLAs and supporters from the nook and corner to descend at the SGPDA grounds, before they march to the district Collectorate to hand over a memorandum on Rafael deal to the district Collector Dr Tariq Thomas.
That the Congress has attached much importance to the agitation is evident by the fact that AICC general secretary in-charge of Goa Dr Chella Kumar is expected to land in the state ahead of the program. In fact, sources said that Dr Chella Kumar along with Leader of the Opposition Babu Kavlekar and South district President Joe Dias are expected to hand over a memorandum to the district Collector on the Rafael deal while other MLAs and leaders address the party workers outside.
The Goan understands that while most MLAs form South Goa are expected to participated in the rally, there may be an exception or two, including Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, who is scheduled to go on the pilgrimage to Vailankani.
South Goa Congress president Joe Dias said the party rally on September 7 at Margao is not a show of strength by the Congress, but hastened to add that most of the Party MLAs and senior leaders are expected to attend the rally. “We expect party workers from all the constituencies in South Goa to take part in the rally. This rally is part of the Congress’s party countrywide agitation against the Rafael deal”, Joe said.
Party leaders in private said the rally at Margao and Panjim will indeed provide a platform the party MLAs to sing unity tunes and scoff off the rumours that a group of party MLAs are gearing up to resign and join the BJP.
The two rallies, sources in the Congress, say will in a way virtually kick-start the party’s campaign for the two Lok Sabha seats in Goa, which are presented by the BJP MPs, Union Minister Sripad Naik and South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar. --
