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BJP central leaders to take stock of situation in Goa

Congress, on the other hand, has said that it is watching the developments and will explore the possibility of forming government in the state.

BJP central leaders to take stock of situation in Goa

Goa CM Manohar Parrikar (Photo: IANS)

With Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi, a team of central BJP leaders is expected to arrive in Goa on Sunday to assess and recommend to the Centre a political roadmap for the BJP-led coalition government.

BJP’s central observers B L Santhosh and Ram Lal are likely to arrive in Goa Sunday afternoon to take stock of the political situation and initiate a discussion with party leaders and alliance partners for a possible merger.

State BJP president Vinay Tendulkar told reporters that a team led by BJP General Secretary Ram Lal was expected to arrive on Sunday afternoon.

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“He will arrive in the afternoon after he will meet senior party leaders and coalition partners to decide on the future course of action,” Tendulkar said.

Ram Lal is expected to meet officials from the BJP, allies as well as supporting Independent MLAs in a bid to forge a political strategy and finalise options for the post of Chief Minister, before recommending the same to BJP President Amit Shah on Monday.

While a section of senior BJP leaders feel that dissolution of the state Assembly and a mid-term poll is the way ahead, instead of thrusting senior leaders at the helm of government, some legislators believe that the government should continue at any cost.

Opposition Congress, on the other hand, has said that it is watching the developments and will explore the possibility of forming government in the state.

The Parrikar-led government is ruling the state with the support of the Goa Forward Party (GFP), the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Independents.

The BJP currently has 14 legislators in the 40-member assembly while the GFP, the MGP and Independents have three each.

The Congress has 16 MLAs while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has one legislator.

Meanwhile, the Congress 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,” All India Congress Committee secretary A Chellakumar, who is also Goa in-charge of the party, 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.

Parrikar, 62, was admitted to the AIIMS Saturday morning. He had undergone a three-month-long treatment in the United States for pancreatic ailment earlier this year.

(With agency inputs)

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