Panaji: Goa Forward Party, an alliance partner in BJP-led government, on Monday claimed that the stalemate over selection of Chief Minister’s candidate in absence of Manohar Parrikar continues.
Goa Forward party Chief Vijai Sardesai said that the party has not taken any decision on supporting any chief ministerial aspirant. “The stalemate over the issue continues,” he said.
BJP has began exercise to select new Chief Minister for Goa after the demise of Manohar Parrikar who passed away on Sunday.
Sardesai was part of alliance partners who had met BJP National leader Nitin Gadkari who is currently camping in Goa to troubleshoot the situation.
Gadkari is mandated with the work of selecting consensus candidate amongst the coalition partners including BJP, GFP, MGP and Independents.
Sardesai said that he along with other coalition members had met Gadkari last night expressing certain apprehensions. “We are yet to receive any response from them. We can understand that BJP is busy with final rites on the mortal remains of Parrikar,” he said.
Earlier during the day, BJP MLA and Deputy Speaker of Legislative Assembly Michael Lobo had claimed that names of two leaders – Pramod Sawant and Vishwajit Rane – have been shortlisted.
Gadkari held meetings with MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar and BJP MLAs on Monday morning to zero down to the consensus candidate.
The strength of 40-member Goa Legislative Assembly has been reduced to 36 due to death of two MLAs – Parrikar and Francis D’Souza while duo Congress legislators – Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte had resigned last year to join BJP.
