Political earthquake due in Goa: Congress

The Congress on Wednesday said that a "political earthquake" was on cards in Goa due to "absolute lack of governance", while also urging ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to emulate Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and hand over charge to a colleague in the wake of his illness.

Addressing a press conference, former Union Minister of State for Law and Judiciary Ramakant Khalap urged Goa governor Mridula Sinha to withdraw her pleasure in the Parrikar-led Goa government, which he said was non functional in view of the Chief Minister's prolonged illness.

He also said that ministers, BJP leaders and the Goa Governor, who were keen on Parrikar to continue in office despite his ill-health were endangering the CM's life.

"It (political earthquake) will happen on its own. We have seen several political parties imploding for several reasons. Now in this particular case, there is a general cause for an implosion," Khalap told reporters.

He sought to advise Parrikar, who is now being treated for advanced pancreatic cancer at New Delhi's AIIMS, to give up his office and focus on his health.

Khalap said that the IIT-alumnus should follow the example set by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who handed over charge of his ministry to cabinet colleague Piyush Goel, when he was being treated for a kidney ailment for several months.

The Congress leader said the Governor should sack the BJP-led ruling dispensation forthwith due to "total collapse of administration, because this council of ministers has not been meeting" due to Parrikar's health situation.

Last week, Congress MLAs had submitted a representation to Sinha formally demanding the dismissal of the Goa cabinet, which they claimed was not functioning due to the ill-health of Parrikar and some of his ministers.

--IANS

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