Goa: Ailing CM Manohar Parikkar calls for an ‘agenda-less’ cabinet meeting at AIIMS

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, has called a meeting at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) with cabinet colleagues and alliance partners on Friday and Saturday, October 12 and 13 respectively. He was admitted to AIIMS on September 15, where he is currently undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment.

“I have been invited for the meeting with the chief minister in Delhi on October 12. I don't know who else is invited,” said Govind Gawade, Minister of art and culture. He added that he has not been informed about the agenda.

Parrikar will also meet the BJP’s core committee members including three members of Parliament—Vinay Tendulkar, Shripad Naik and Narendra Sawaikar—and two others Dattaprasad Kholkar and Sunil Desai.

Parrikar, who had earlier promised he would redistribute the portfolios given his inability to discharge duties, postponed the decision in view of squabbling among allies.

The opposition in Goa has raised questions over the stability of the government because of Parrikar’s illness. All the 16 Congress legislators in Goa assembly met Governor Mridula Sinha on September 19 and demanded a floor test by the BJP-led government, after the 62-year-old Chief Minister was admitted to AIIMS.

On the same day, BJP president Amit Shah met party leaders in Goa to work out a plan and prevent any political crisis after the opposition Congress staked claim to power. The BJP chief said, Mr Parrikar will remain the chief minister but a cabinet reshuffle is likely soon.

Goa Deputy Speaker and BJP lawmaker Michael Lobo had said earlier that there has been a “totally collapse” in state administration because of the absence of ailing CM.

The BJP, which has 14 lawmakers in the 40-member Assembly, is governing the state with the help of the MGP, the GFP, the NCP and three Independents. The Congress has 16 lawmakers in the Goa assembly.

Parikkar had dropped two ailing ministers from his cabinet — Francis D’Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar—on September 24. He inducted two others, Nilesh Cabral and Milind Naik, a move that caused disquiet within the ruling BJP.

The Congress, who met the Goa governor Mridula Sinha, said that there was no government in Goa. “The government is saying that the CM is well, but if that was the case, why is there no government in Goa? Why is law and order going bad, why is corruption on the rise?” asked Chandrakant Kavlekar, leader of opposition.

(with agency inputs)