Opp stakes claim to form a Govt, but BJP leader Ram Lal says Parrikar Govt is stable
The Congress on Monday staked claim to provide an alternative Government in Goa, which is facing political crisis following prolonged illness of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
The Congress, which has 16 members in the 40-member State Assembly, submitted a memorandum to Governor Mridula Sinha, urging her not to dissolve the Assembly and instead invite the party to form the Government. The State is being ruled by the BJP-led alliance with the saffron party having 14 MLAs.
While the Congress is in a wait and watch mode, BJP Central unit has sent three senior leaders — Ram Lal, BL Santhosh and Vinay Puranik — to meet the State party leaders and allies to take stock of the political situation.
Kavalekar said the Congress has support of legislators from other parties and can form a Government if given a chance by the Governor. “We will prove our majority on the floor of the House,” he said.
However, BJP leader Ram Lal said the Goa Government is stable and no demand has been made for a change in the leadership. He stated this after a meeting with party MLAs, former legislators and core committee members. He said the BJP’s alliance partners — the Goa Forward Party (GFP), the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Independents — conveyed that they will agree to any political decision taken by the BJP.
AICC Goa incharge A Chella Kumar said the party High Command is keeping an eye on the development in Panjim, and the State Congress unit is in touch with some local parties even as some of the disgruntled BJP MLAs have reached out to the Congress.
“The Congress is ready to provide a stable alternative Government provided other parties are ready to join hands with us by not compromising the interests of the people of Goa,” said Kumar, who succeeded Digvijay Singh after the Congress High Command removed him for failing to stake claim to form the Government even though the Congress emerged the single largest party after the 2017 Assembly polls.
Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar said the Congress party has submitted a memorandum to the Governor staking claim to form an alternate Government. All the 16 Congress MLAs, led by Kavlekar, went to the Raj Bhavan but could not meet the Governor as she is out of the State.
“The party urged the Governor not to consider dissolution of the Assembly, which is a possibility considering internal fighting in the ruling alliance and illness of Parrikar,” Kavlekar said.
The BJP has 14 seats in the Assembly, its allies Goa Forward Party and MGP have three each. Three Independents and an MLA from Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also support the BJP.
The MGP, which is one of the constituents of the NDA Government in Goa with three MLAs, said a “common solution” on the political situation rising out of the indisposition of the CM has to come from the BJP. “This is a coalition Government but the decision (on governance in the absence of Parrikar) has to be taken by the BJP since it is the largest party in the State Government. We are waiting for a common solution, which the BJP will give us,” MGP chief Deepak Dhavalikar said.
The solution should be in sync with what the allies have been requesting, he said, adding that his party had not given any specific proposal to the BJP on a change of leadership. “Yes, we have told them (the BJP) if they are considering it (change in leadership), then charge should be given to the senior-most Minister. We continue to stick to our demand,” Dhavalikar said.
Parrikar, 62, who is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, is admitted in AIIMS for treatment.
He had just returned from United States after a prolong treatment and remained active for some time. BJP president Amit Shah and many senior party leaders visited Parrikar at the AIIMS. Shah flew to Delhi from Rajasthan and left again for the State after visiting AIIMS.
Sources in the premier hospital said although Parrikar “is not critical”, he was under observation. He is admitted at the old private ward under Dr Pramod Garg, professor of gastroenterology.