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    BJP leaders to arrive in Panaji amidst rumours about leadership change

    Synopsis

    Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, who has been in charge of Goa, is also likely to arrive in day or two said a BJP member on condition of anonymity.

    Manohar parrikarPTI


    Parrikar is reported to have spoken to party president Amit Shah.

    NEW DELHI: Political activity stepped up in Goa on Friday evening with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar meeting some of his cabinet colleagues and his party’s core committee in a hospital in Candolim where he is recovering.

    Parrikar is reported to have spoken to party president Amit Shah earlier this evening. Amidst rumours of a leadership change, central observers, including national general secretary Ram Lal, are expected to arrive in Panaji on Saturday.

    Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, who has been in charge of Goa, is also likely to arrive in day or two said a BJP member on condition of anonymity.

    Parrikar has been in out of hospital since February this year. However a change in leadership of the coalition government has been consistently denied. His health isn’t the only concern weighing in on the government. At least two other ministers remain absent, recovering from their respective illnesses.

    The former Defence Minister had, since his return from the US, on Septembre 6 moved in to a private clinic in Candolim, 15 km from capital. Until Friday, the CM had only met with his Principal Secretary, P Krishnamurthy and the state’s Chief Secretary. On Friday he made a quick visit to his ancestral home for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.

    After his meeting with Parrikar, coalition partner Vijay Sardesai of Goa Forward assured reporters that the CM was doing fine. Speaking to ET late on Friday, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar of the Maharastra Gomantak Party said he had spent an hour with his CM and “As of now he is very much the leader of the government. And was clearing files when I went to meet him.”

    The buzz is that Dhavalikar may be appointed Deputy Chief Minister. For a chance at the top post, however, Dhavalikar may have to consider merging the MGP with the BJP.

    The Goa Forward and the MGP had both extended their support to the BJP in 2017, making the current coalition government possible, on condition that Parrikar would be leading them.

    A consensus for a replacement from within the BJP will also be a challenge considering the party only holds 14 seats in the states’ 40 member assembly, less than the Congress’ 16.


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