BJP central observers reach Goa to take stock of situation

PANAJI: SOME MEDIA REPORTS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THE BJP IS EXPLORING ALTERNATIVES FOR THE CM’S POSITION UNTIL PARRIKAR GETS WELL

A three-member team of central observers of the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party arrived in Goa on Sunday afternoon to take stock of the political situation in view the wake of chief minister Manohar Parrikar’s indisposition, even as the Congress said it was watching the developments.

Parrikar, 62, has been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi for treatment.

Some media reports have suggested that the BJP is exploring alternatives for the chief minister’s position in Goa until Parrikar gets well. The BJP sent its national general secretaries B L Santhosh and Ram Lal and Goa in-charge Vijay Puranik to assess the situation in the state, where the party came to power with the support of regional outfits and Independents.

“They will be holding a series of meetings on Sunday and Monday with BJP leaders and also the alliance partners — the Goa Forward Party, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and the Independents,” BJP state chief Vinay Tendulkar told reporters.

BJP leader Michael Lobo, the deputy speaker of the Goa assembly, had said Saturday that the party emissaries will suggest to the allies that they should become part of the BJP.

“A proposal will be made to the GFP and the MGP, asking them to merge with the BJP. Only after that, we will take up issues such as who will be the next chief minister or who will take over the charge or anything related to it,” Lobo had said.

The BJP currently has 14 legislators in the 40-member assembly while the GFP and the MGP have three each. The BJP is also supported by three Independents. The Opposition Congress has 16 MLAs while the Nationalist Congress Party has one MLA.

Meanwhile, the Congress on Sunday said it was watching the developments and may explore the possibility of forming government in Goa but “not by compromising the state’s interest”.

“Our stand is very clear. We will definitely explore all possibilities but that does not mean that we will do it by compromising the ideology or the interest of Goans,” party secretary A Chellakumar, who is also Goa in-charge of the Congress, said.

“We are not in a hurry to capture power by compromising the interest of the people of Goa. The Congress is accountable to the people,” he added.