BJP government in Goa in trouble

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BJP government in Goa in trouble

The polticial crisis in Goa deepened further with the demise of Manohar Parrikar Sunday

Monday March 18, 2019 12:13 PM, ummid.com News Network

Panaji: The polticial crisis in Goa deepened further with the demise of Manohar Parrikar Sunday.

Parrikar, Uniond Defence Minister, was brought from Delhi to Goa just before the 2017 state elections as the BJP did not have a "strong and acceptable to all face". Parrikar later resigned as union minister and became Chief Minister even though the party did not have the needed number.

Without having sufficient number of MLAs of his own party, Parrikar therefore led a weak government. But, dissent within the BJP started emerging when Parrikar was diagnosed of pancreatic cancer about a year ago. Clamour for a replacement became louder with his worsening health condition. The BJP however did not budge to the pressure.

But, on Sunday with reports coming that Parrikar is on life support and apprehensions that chances of a recovery is very thin, pressure for the BJP to choose someone else to lead the government multiplied. The opposition Congress added fuel to the fire by approaching the governor and staking claim to form a government.

"The coalition partners of the Parrikar led government had allied with BJP on condition that the government is headed by Mr. Manohar Parrikar, the then Defence Minister of India. The BJP therfore has no allies as of now", Goa Pradesh Congress Committee said in a letter addressed to the Governor.

"Congress being the single largest party it is submitted that, the leader of the Congress legislative party is entitled to be invited to form the next government. We therefore hereby once again stake our claim to form a government in the state", the letter said.

Hours after Parrikar's death, Goa Forward Party led by Vijai Sardesai also said that it may rethink its decision to support the BJP in the state since its support was never for the saffron party.

“We had extended our support to Manohar Parrikar not BJP. Now that he is no more, options are open. We want stability in Goa, we don’t want dissolution of the house. We’ll wait for the decision at the BJP legislature meeting and then take the next step,” news agency ANI quoted Sardesai as saying.

Goa Forward Party has 03 MLAs, Congress has 14 members, BJP has 11 and MGP has 03 MLAs. Besides them NCP has 01 and rest 03 are independents. The state has a total of 40 seats.

Meanwhile, Union Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari is camping in Goa to make sure that there is no dissent or defection from the party. He is also talking with the BJP allies in the state but so far there is no unanimity on the name of the new chief minister, party sources said.

The names that are taking rounds in the media for Manohar Parrikar's successor included Pramod Sawant, the Goa assembly speaker, and allies Sudhin Dhawalikar and Vijay Sardesai,the head of the Goa Forward Party.

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