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Odds favour kingmaker Lobo in BJP’s leadership moves

The ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar may be the undisputed leader of the BJP but when political hatches and patches matter for the party at crucial stages, a BJP legislator from Bardez’s coast has led from the front.

KISHOR NAIK GAONKAR | MARCH 24, 2018, 03:27 AM IST

PANAJI

  

At a time when BJP’s central leadership has begun identifying leaders for a possible leadership change, in the eventuality Parrikar is unable to discharge his duties as chief minister, Deputy Speaker and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has begun his trademark role of keeping coalition partners together and maintaining stability of the government.   

And in doing so, he has not only cemented his personal ties with leaders of coalition partners, but has also entered into the leadership race amid growing claims that the new leader should be accepted by the BJP and coalition partners in the government.   

That Lobo is adept at attracting leaders from different parties was evident when the BJP had failed to security a majority in the 2017 assembly elections and Lobo had taken the initiative to bring Goa Forward Party (GFP) and successfully form the government.   

With Parrikar undergoing medical treatment in New York and with ongoing political discussions and negotiations over a possible leadership change, Lobo has taken upon himself the responsibility of keeping coalition partners intact and united.   

While BJP’s central leadership has begun talks to shortlist an interim caretaker to head the government, there have been growing demands from the State BJP to identify a leader after taking BJP MLAs and coalition partners into confidence.   

With the BJP finding it difficult to rope in MGP leader and PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar by merging the MGP into the BJP, Speaker and Sakhali MLA Dr Pramod Sawant has been seen as a possible option, given that he is the only sitting MLA, apart from Parrikar, to be from the BJP cadre. This affiliation has given him a preference within the central leadership.   

However, Dr Sawant could find it difficult to find supporters across the board, with some prominent voices demanding that the leadership be entrusted to a person recognized by everyone, since the state BJP government is dependent on coalition partners and not merely on the party cadre.   

Lobo could be seen as the option to Dr Sawant, given his close rapport with coalition partners who would have a say in the matters pertaining to a change in leadership.   

Lobo had won the confidence of GFP after working overtime to ensure the success of its leaders, WRD minister and Siolim MLA Vinoda Paliencar and RDA minister and Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar. 

Lobo also shares close relations with independent and other MLAs, who are equally crucial allies.   

Lobo is expected to get the backing of independent MLAs, Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte, Art and Culture Minister Govind Gawade and Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar, as well as NCP’s Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao.   

Incidentally, some minority leaders felt that the BJP should seriously consider handing over leadership to a minority leader, as it would give BJP a golden opportunity to prove it is a secular party.   


Difficult to stay in BJP in the 

absence of Parrikar: Lobo   

PANAJI: Claiming that Catholic leaders had moved to the BJP  only due to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Deputy Speaker Micheal  Lobo has said these leaders would have to seriously reconsider their  association in the party if Parrikar were to step down as chief  minister.   

“The minority leaders have been unhappy due to BJP’s  national policies, but they have been quiet because of Chief Minister  Manohar Parrikar. It would, therefore, be difficult to stay in the BJP  in the absence of Manohar Parrikar,” admitted Lobo.   

“If, for any reason, Parrikar resigns as chief minister, I  will seriously think about resigning as MLA. Other minority leaders  share similar thoughts on this matter, since seven of the 14 BJP MLAs  are from the minority community,” he added.

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