BJP eyes interim arrangement in Goa
PANAJI: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is looking at reappointing a Cabinet Advisory Committee (CAC) to sanction expenditure proposals on Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar’s behalf, officials familiar with the proposed move said on Tuesday.
The proposal has come as the opposition Congress has staked its claim to form a government in Goa. The party has demanded the BJP-led alliance government’s dismissal in Goa, citing the illness of Parrikar, who is undergoing treatment at Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences. In a letter to Governor Mridula Sinha, the Congress on Monday said Parrikar was “unable to function and the governance has come to a standstill”.
A final decision with CAC’s regard was likely to be taken as early as Tuesday night or the following morning, the officials said.
“The structure will be the same, only the dates of the notification will have to be changed,” said an official, referring to the three-member CAC that was appointed when Parrikar was away from February to June for his pancreatic ailment treatment.
Sinha had formed the panel on Parrikar’s recommendation. The panel had a member each from the BJP and its alliance partners, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Goa Forward Party (GFP). The committee had powers to approve proposals for works costing up to ₹10 crore.
Each minister had been given powers to sanction expenditure worth ₹2 crore, which they do not have when the is present.
The BJP will have to find a replacement for Francis D’Souza, who was earlier part of CAC but is now undergoing treatment at a US hospital.
Officials said Parrikar had initially expressed his inability to discharge his duties and showed his willingness to distribute his portfolios among other ministers. But the move caused rumblings of displeasure within the coalition over who would be the interim chief minister.
Several BJP lawmakers have pitched for this interim arrangement — the appointment of the CAC — to ensure that governance does not suffer on account of Parrikar’s absence.
Officials said there was no consensus over who should be given additional responsibilities as the interim chief minister. Public works department minister and MGP leader Sudin Dhavlikar was tipped to take the charge as the senior most minister. But GFP and three independents, who have formed a separate group in the alliance, opposed it.
Officials said the cracks within the alliance forced the BJP to stick with Parrikar for the time being. They said scanned copies of files are being sent to him for his approval.
The Congress dismissed the proposed move to set up the CAC as illegal. “Where is the provision in the constitution for a CAC? It is all useless,” said Congress leader Ramakant Khalap.
A Congress delegation separately met Sinha on Tuesday and demanded that a single-day assembly session be called for the government be prove its majority.
The BJP questioned the Congress’ move to stake the claim. “We have a majority. Not a single bill has failed in the assembly. Someone has to withdraw their support,” BJP state president Vinay Tendulkar said.