Panaji (Goa)
While State government completes one year in the chair today, the day is bereft of any celebrations as Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar continues to be hospitalized in the USA being treated for the pancreatic disease.
BJP had formed the State government along with its post-election allies – Goa Forward Party, MGP and Independents – after it failed regain majority in 2017 State Legislative Assembly election. The party was reduced to 13 seats from its tally of 21, warranting the need of alliance partners to form the State government.
Congress won on 17 seats but was short by four legislators to stake claim to form the government.
The GFP, MGP and Independents agreed to support BJP to form the government with a rider that then Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar returns to the State politics.
Parrikar took oath as the chief minister on March 14 along with nine other ministers, forcing the Congress into the opposition benches.
The ideological rivalry between GFP and MGP mirrored several times during the year on various issues but Parrikar remained as a mediator saving the government from facing the crisis.
While several issues including Regional Plan, moving out of Off Shore casinos, mining, nationalization of riverways and others kept the government on tenterhooks, the weak opposition coupled with the perfect strategy of the government ensured that things were not worst.
“For last one year, the state government functioned very well. There was no instability or any differences amongst the ruling camp,” said senior BJP leader and state Urban Development Minister Francis D’Souza.
He, however, admitted that the administration has slowed down in last few days due to absence of the chief minister. “We are currently coping up with the situation and things would be normalized once Parrikar is back,” D’Souza added.
The affairs of the State is currently handed by three-member Cabinet Advisory Committee comprising of Vijai Sardesai (GFP), D’Souza (BJP) and Sudin Dhavalikar (MGP).
Sardesai said that the formation of government was a “positive political compromise” done by his party in the interest of the State. “During the year, we encountered several difficult phases but they were forced on us by the forces which were outside the State,” he said.
He stated that the ban on sale of liquor along highways and current issue of mining shut down after March 15 mid-night were part of the legal verdicts.
Sardesai said that the ailing chief minister is a biggest factor for the government right now. “We are all praying for his speedy recovery and we are sure that he will be back in the State soon. Till then, I appeal all the coalition partners to help each other to keep the flock together,” he added.
Another coalition partner, MGP has said that the year but for few exceptions.
MGP President Deepak Dhavalikar said that the party has contributed for the stability of the government would continue doing so till Parrikar is the chief minister.
“Our commitment towards the government is till Parrikar remains as the chief minister,” he said.’
During the entire year, Congress failed to be a formidable opposition except for its wings like Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress which protested on the street against rising prices of Coconuts and demand for abolishing GST on sanitary pads.
The Congress remained to be disabled opposition on the floor of the House with its Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar and its leader like Digambar Kamat being investigated by police for different offences.
“Government’s one year is nothing beyond fake and false promises. It failed in almost every front and more so on the development front. Not just in opposition, but even the constituencies represented by ruling MLAs saw no development,” said Kavlekar.
