A day after the demise of former Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar, the BJP quickly moved in to thwart any attempt by the Congress to cash in on the political vacuum. In all likelihood, the party will name Pramod Sawant as Parrikar’s successor.
NDA’s supporters — Goa Forward Party leader Vijai Sardesai and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party’s Sudin Dhavalikar — are likely to be made Deputy Chief Ministers of the State.
On Monday, the BJP started efforts to find a new legislative party leader in place of Parrikar with senior BJP leader and Minister Nitin Gadkari, who was in Goa, holding discussions with party MLAs and leaders of NDA allies.
Gadkari told reporters in Goa that a decision on the new chief minister will be taken very soon.
Attacking the Congress, which staked claim for forming the government, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said it is sad that the party chose Parrikar’s death as an opportune moment to play politics.
“We all can wait for the politics, but right now, here is a person whom not only his friends, followers and colleagues but also the adversaries always respected and liked as an individual,” Madhav said.
The Congress had also started move to ensure majority in the 40-member Assembly.
The State Assembly has four vacant seats, including Panaji — the seat represented by Parrikar.
‘Have 3 MLAs more’
The Congress, the largest party in the Assembly with 14 members, claimed on Monday that it should be given an opportunity to prove majority.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters that the Congress will try to form the government again in Goa.
“What we tried before, we are trying again. When elections happened in Goa, the Congress emerged as the number one party. The BJP got fewer seats (than the Congress). Now, the BJP’s MLA count has gone down (further). It is 11 and the Congress’ is 14. We have three MLAs more compared to them,” he said.
He urged Governor Mridula Sinha to restore democracy in the State.
“I would like to attract the attention of the whole country as well as the media... democracy should be established (in Goa). And governors, who occupies the position of a judge, should take the correct decision. The one who has a majority should form the government. It is not right for democracy if artificial majority is created as per the directions of central government,” he said.