Polling peaceful in 3 seats, sporadic reports of booth jamming, EVM malfunction
Barring stray incidents, the second phase of polling to three Lok Sabha constituencies went off peacefully, today.
Union Minister Shripad Naik Friday said a change in leadership in Goa is a “requirement” “today or tomorrow” considering the health of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Parrikar has been undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment for several months now and arrived in the state on October 14 post hospitalisation at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi.
“We will have to have a change in leadership either today or tomorrow. It is a requirement. You all know that the chief minister’s health is not well but still he is working under such circumstances,” the Union AYUSH minister said on the sidelines of a press conference here to announce International Yoga Day.
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While there has been periodic talk about a change in leadership in the state, the BJP has consistently ruled it out.
Goa BJP President Vinay Tendulkar had last month said that ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will not resign as the head of the BJP-led coalition government, ruling out “rumours” that the former Defence Minister was likely to step down from his post due to ill-health.
Parrikar’s absence from office due to health reasons has triggered a political upheaval in Goa, with ruling allies stepping up pressure on the BJP to shed some of the top portfolios currently held by the Chief Minister.
The Congress has also demanded that due to Parrikar’s ill-health, the state administration had come to a standstill and has demanded that Governor Mridula Sinha should dismiss the government.
(With agency inputs)
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