‘Parrikar wanted to quit, top BJP leaders did not allow’, says Agriculture Minister

Goa Agriculture Minister and Forward Party chief, Vijai Sardesai stated on Thursday that the ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar wanted to resign, but the BJP high command vetoed it.

Vijai Sardesai said, “He wanted to give up the CM’s post altogether. He had even shown inclination to give away his portfolios (to other ministers) when he was admitted to a hospital during Ganesh Chaturthi festival.”

As told to reporters by Mr Sardesai, “But then several things happened. BJP high command stepped in….it (to resign or not) is not in his (Parrikar’s) hands entirely.”

Goa Chief Minister- Manohar Parrikar is 62-years-old and he has been recuperating at his residence in Goa since he was discharged from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on October 14, this year. It is believed that he is suffering from a pancreatic ailment.

When Mr Sarddesai was asked about independent MLA and Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte’s remark that the administration has become sluggish in Parrikar’s absence, he said, “I have always been saying that CM’s ill-health has had some sort of impact, and it is showing.”

He also said that it was shocking to know that another alliance partner Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) had filed a petition against two former Congress MLAs who joined the BJP.

MGP has put up a petition at the Goa Bench of Bombay High Court, seeking to disqualify Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte, former Congress MLAs who recently joined the BJP.

Sardesai added, “It is a matter between two constituents of the alliance — BJP and MGP. So we are not concerned with it.”

Further on, in a cryptic remairk, Mr Sardesai said “As far as MGP is concerned, its decision to go to the court is surprising….I can believe it is a preemptive move, they (MGP) have not lost anything, Congress has lost two MLAs.”

Earlier, speculation was rife that MGP MLAs might join the BJP which does not have a majority on its own in Goa Assembly.

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