the goan I network
MARGAO
Major developments in the political field are expected in the State soon after the celebrations of the 9-day Navratri festivities, with the focus of attention being on the portfolios held by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. The BJP leadership had recently indicated of shedding some of the portfolios held by the ailing Chief Minister to its allies in the govt.
The exercise assumes significance and throws up a host of questions. The alliance partners, including the Goa Forward, are keeping their cards close to their chest and are expected to play them at the right time after the BJP leadership unveils its proposal on the allocation of portfolios.
Sources in the know informed that when Goa Forward chief and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai called on ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar at the AIIMS, New Delhi last week, the question of allocation of portfolios was informally discussed between the duo.
While the Chief Minister was believed to have asked the Goa Forward chief if he had any preference over any particular portfolio held him, the TCP Minister reportedly told Parrikar that the Goa Forward would make known its stand on the portfolios only after the offer comes from him and the BJP leadership.
The TCP Minister is on record saying that the Chief Minister will shed the portfolios held by him after the auspicious Navratri. What, however, is still unclear is how the Chief Minister or the BJP central leadership will go about allocating the portfolios to the members of the Cabinet.
It is still unclear whether the Chief Minister will only retain the General Administration Department and will shed all other portfolios including the key portfolios of Finance, Home and Education. And, the alliance partners are in the dark whether the BJP leadership will give the key portfolios of Finance or Home to the partners or would prefer to retain them and distribute amongst the ministers belonging to the party.
Another question that has remained unanswered is whether the Chief Minister will shed all the portfolios, barring the GAD, or will retain some which do not affect the day-to-day administration of the state.
When The Goan called up Goa Forward Chief and TCP Minster to shed light on the party stand on the allocation of portfolios, Sardesai said he has made it very clear to the Chief Minister that the regional party would unveil their stand on the portfolios allocation only after the proposal comes from Parrikar.
He replied in the negative when asked whether the Goa Forward party has shown any preference to a particular portfolio held by the Chief Minister. “The question of showing our preference for any particular portfolios does not arise since I have asked the Chief Minister to unveil his decision,” he said.
The question of the Chief Minister shedding many a portfolio held by him has come to the fore against the backdrop of the state of administration, with even the alliance partners and a section of the BJP leadership expressing its reservation over the state of affairs plaguing the administration over the last couple of months.
Whether the Chief Minister will only retain the General Administration Department
Whether Parrikar will shed all portfolios including Finance, Home and Education
Whether BJP leadership will give away the key portfolios to the partners in govt
Whether CM will distribute key portfolios amongst ministers from his party
Will CM retain some which do not affect the day-to-day administration of the state
