Panaji: Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai on Thursday said that running the State government without Manohar Parrikar is going to be a challenge, and current coalition is going to face it together.
Sardesai was addressing the condolence meeting held by State government, which was participated by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Goa Governor Mridula Sinha, RSS Organisational Secretary Bhayyaji Joshi and others.
Sardesai, who heads BJP’s ally Goa Forward Party, also said that his party had resolved to support BJP in the State during 2017 Assembly election, if Parrikar, who was then Union Defence Minister, agrees to head the State.
“We have to try to create more Parrikars and to do so we need more foresight. He was the one who had foresight. He was the one who proposed name of Narendra Modi as Prime Ministerial candidate,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
Sardesai said “I am sure the government has gone into another phase after the demise of Parrikar. It is not going to be easy without Parrikar.”
“It is going to be a challenge and we are going to face it with together. Giving good and stable government is the biggest tribute we can give to Parrikar,” he said.
Referring to the period before 2017 State legislative assembly election, Sardesai said that he had met Parrikar at one of the relative’s place.
“We had decided even before election and had given him assurance that we will form the government if he returns to state politics and heads the coalition,” Sardesai said.
The Deputy CM said that Parrikar was then confident that BJP would garner majority in 2017 Assembly election.
BJP had won on 13 seats for the election after which Parrikar formed the government in alliance with GFP, MGP and Independents.
Sardesai said that he had given word to Parrikar to continue in the government. “I have given him word and has kept it,” he added.
