Parrikar will continue being CM, changes in Cabinet soon: Shah
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to stick with Manohar Parrikar as the Chief Minister of Goa despite his illness. "After discussing with Goa's core team, we have taken a decision that Manohar Parrikar will lead Goa as the Chief Minister. But a cabinet reshuffle and change in department duties will be followed soon," BJP Chief Amit Shah tweeted on Sunday. Here's more.
Here's the announcement
BJP has been facing a leadership crisis
The BJP and its alliance partners, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), and the Goa Forward Party (GFP) have had a row over the charge of the Chief Minister's position. With Parrikar and two other ministers, Francis D'Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar, also hospitalized, the BJP is facing a major leadership crisis. The MGP had also demanded that party leader Sudin Dhavalikar be handed the charge.
Three-member Committee to handle Goa during Parrikar's absence
A three-member Cabinet Advisory Committee (CAC) was appointed while Parrikar was away for his pancreatic ailment treatment from February to June. Goa Governor Mridula Sinha formed the panel on Parrikar's recommendation and had a member each from BJP and its alliances. Parrikar initially showed his willingness to distribute duties among several ministers. However, it caused a stir within the coalition over the interim CM.
The feud within the alliances
Since there was no unanimous consensus over who should be the interim Chief Minister, Goa PWD Minister Dhavlikar was asked to take charge. However, that miffed GFP and three independents and the idea was opposed. The internal feud has compelled the BJP to let Parrikar be the CM for now. Parrikar was admitted to Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences on September 15.
The Opposition angle
Congress claimed to form the government in Goa last week and demanded that the BJP-led alliance government should dismiss citing Parrikar's illness. In a letter to Governor Mridula Sinha, Congress said that Parrikar was "unable to function and the governance has come to a standstill".
