Sandesh Prabhudesai
4 Aug 1999
Election fever is yet to grip the tourist state, which has just
concluded the month-long budget session. In fact the political parties are still not come
out of the hangover of Assembly elections, held here hardly two months ago.
The political news in Goa is still the (in)stability, as the ruling
Congress is struggling hard to maintain its seat of power while the same Congress is also
planning to topple its own government. The only respite for chief minister Luizinho
Faleiro is the smooth passing of the budget, despite threats of revolt.
Though he succeeded in running safely through the month-long Assembly
session by postponing the cabinet expansion, the aspirants within the ruling party appear
to be in a mood not to work for the Congress victory in Lok Sabha polls unless they are
crowned with cabinet berths.
The whole problem has cropped up with the Congress limiting its cabinet
size to six and assuring only two more now, leaving at least nine contenders without
red-light official vehicles. But their plan of revolt could not materialise as the
10-member BJP declined to support the alternate government from outside, objecting to the
involvement of some tainted leaders in the move.
To strengthen his position of 21 in the 40-member House, Faleiro then
admitted both United Goans Democratic Party legislators and has now mooted a coalition
government with the four-member Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party to strengthen his 23-member
strong government. He is also supported by the sole independent.
But so much is the pressure of dissidents within, that Faleiro had to
postpone his plan to expand the cabinet on Wednesday, inducting one each from the MGP and
the former UGDP legislator. He has now rushed to Delhi to seek the high command’s nod
and try and cool down the dissidents.
To satisfy a few aspirants, Faleiro has now proposed to drop two of
cabinet colleagues, providing them an alternative. Health minister Francisco Sardinha, the
former MP, has been requested to contest again from South Goa whereas power minister
Nirmala Sawant has been requested to once again take over as the Goa PCC chief. Both have
however declined the offer.
Faleiro is also in a little soup because former union minister Ramakant
Khalap, who had initially agreed to subsequently merge the MGP into the Congress, has
reportedly backtracked due to strong opposition from his party workers. In fact his
coalition move itself has been condemned among the rank and file.
It may also upset Khalap’s plans to contest Lok Sabha election
from North Goa on Congress ticket as the ruling party is not prepared to support him as
the MGP candidate. To counter the growing popularity of the BJP, Faleiro is reportedly
also planning to approach General Sunith Rodricks, retired army chief settled here, to
contest from South Goa.
