New Delhi, Nov 10(NIE): Union Minister of State for Ayush Shripad Naik said on Friday that ailing Manohar Parrikar’s leadership will have to be changed “today or tomorrow” and that replacing him as Goa’s Chief Minister was a “requirement”.
“Change will have to be done today or tomorrow. It’s a requirement. You know the chief minister’s health is not good. But he is still working in this condition,” Naik told reporters as he spoke on Parrikar’s failing health.
Naik is one of the first Goa BJP leaders to demand a change of leadership in Goa, even as the state BJP has come under immense flak over the CM’s prolonged absence due to illness.
Parrikar is in an advanced stage of pancreatic cancer and is resting at his Dona Paula residence in Goa. He hasn’t attended his office at Porvorim since June and had been shuttling between New York, New Delhi and Goa for treatment.
The Union minister, however, skirted round the reasons why the chief minister had still not resigned from active administration, even as several leaders have openly expressed concern. “There are many reasons, which cannot be fully talked about. Thing will happen in time,” he added.
Naik’s statement comes a day after BJP leaders, including former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar and few other core committee members, met at the residence of party MLA Francis D Souza. On Thursday, Parsekar demanded a change of guard in the party’s state hierarchy and a reshuffle in the BJP leadership.
Speaking to the media, Parsekar said Goa BJP president Vinay Tendulkar “is inefficient and cannot take decisions on his own and therefore he should resign”.
Parsekar has been voicing his ire against Tendulkar soon after Dayanand Sopte, a Congress MLA, was inducted into BJP. “There is no involvement in any decision- making as we are not even kept in the loop,” Parsekar said.
Referring to the bickerings, Naik said, “Problems happen. Why and what, we cannot say…We are trying to resolve the issue. Finally, you know how the party was built. This should not happen. It is important to know whose fault has led to this, but it will be settled.”
According to Naik, primarily the internal rift arose after “some people were inducted into the party and some portfolios were removed”.