PANAJI
Congress national secretary in charge of Goa, Dr A Chellakumar has challenged Goa Forward supremo Vijai Sardesai and the new entrant into the party, Atanasio ‘Babush' Monserrate, to join forces in "realizing their dream of toppling the BJP government together".
Speaking to The Goan, Chellakumar stated, "Vijai is a businessman and he was simultaneously bargaining with Congress and BJP even after the formation of the new government. He was ready to topple the BJP government with Babush when Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was abroad. Now that Babush has joined Vijai's party, I challenge them to try and topple the BJP government and realize their dream together."
Chellakumar said that Monserrate's entry into Goa Forward did not come as a surprise to him. "I always knew that he was negotiating with the BJP for a berth, and I had in fact confronted him about this. Babush created this different atmosphere saying that he will join hands with Vijai and help in forming a Congress government. We never fell prey to this," the Congress national secretary stated.
He further disclosed that in December 2016, he had a two hour-long meeting with Monserrate in Fatorda wherein the Taleigao strongman warned him against allying with Sardesai.
"Babush was desperate for an alliance. He told me not to encourage Vijai if I want a clean Congress government. He said that Vijai is a blackmailer and that he will create problems. Babush also warned me that Vijai is not secular," Chellakumar revealed.
The senior Congressman insisted that Monserrate's entry into Goa Forward is ‘Vijai's game'. "They will now want to blackmail Parrikar," Chellakumar predicted.
Interestingly, Chellakumar also said that the name of Goa Forward treasurer, Suraj Lotlikar was forwarded for consideration for the Congress Rajya Sabha ticket by none other than Vijai Sardesai.
"Vijai pushed forward Suraj's name through Babush. I rejected the name outright because I knew that Vijai wanted to blackmail us through this. Then again, Vijai informed us that after the Rajya Sabha polls, he will join hands with Babush and with the help of Congress, he can topple the government if we are ready to make him the CM," Chellakumar stated.
Commenting on the viability of Congress' dream of forming the government in the aftermath of the latest development, Chellakumar said that Congress is not a dictatorial party which will force MLAs to remain with it and that he is confident about the loyalty of all Congress MLAs to the secular ideology.
