Parrikar's health critical; BJP MLAs meeting underway

A day after Congress staked claim to form the government, Goa BJP MLAs meeting is underway in Panaji to discuss the political situation in the state. Meanwhile, Goa CM Manohar Parrikar's health is said to be critical.

Panaji: Amid reports of CM Manohar Parikkar's 'critical' health, BJP MLAs met on Sunday at the party's Panaji office to discuss the political situation in the state.

Pointing towards Parrikar's deteriorating health BJP leader Dayanand Mandrekar said that the party's high command must take a decision on the leadership of the state.

"Had Manohar Parrikar been fit, there wouldn't have been a need to change the leader but his health is very critical now, deteriorating day after day. Party should take some decision. From centre to Goa, some decision should be taken. I think it'll be done," Mandrekar said.

However, BJP MLA and deputy speaker of Goa assembly Michael Lobo on Saturday asserted that the leadership in Goa won't change and if anything happens to Parikkar, the new CM will be from the ruling BJP itself.

"Leadership in Goa won't change. Till Parrikar is here, only he'll remain the Chief Minister and no one has made the demand to replace him. We're praying that he gets well, but there are no chances, he is very ill. But if anything happens to him, new CM will be from BJP," he said.

Parrikar who was diagnosed with a pancreatic ailment last year, has been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, Delhi, and New York since February last year. He has since then made a few public appearances in the past few months on a wheelchair with a tube in his nose and a urinary sheath connected to him.

Late Saturday night, a group of six MLAs, who are alliance partners in the government, met Parrikar at his private residence and asserted that Parrikar's health condition is stable.

The group of MLAs included Goa Forward Party's Vijai Sardesai, Jayesh Salgaonkar, Vinod Palyekar and Independents - Rohan Khaunte, Govind Gawade and Prasad Gaonkar.

Sardesai said that the group of MLAs had met to inquire about Parrikar's health condition.

Meanwhile, the Goa Congress on Saturday wrote to Governor Mridula Sinha and staked claim to form government in the state, stating that former Goa deputy chief minister and BJP lawmaker Francis D'Souza death, who died in February, has brought down the party's majority in the Goa assembly.

The Congress party had staked to form the government in October last year too but then its claims were not accepted by the Governor.

The present strength of the Goa Assembly stands at 37 instead of 40.

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