Cong split may prove fatal for the BJP
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 16 August 2000 16:24 ISTThough the split within the opposition Congress creates an impression that it would ultimately strengthen the coalition government led by Francisco Sardinha, the coalition partner BJP's stand against cabinet expansion indicates that the split has invited trouble rather than respite.
The coalition was formed in November last when Sardinha-led group of 11 Congressmen split the ruling party and joined hands with the 10-member BJP to form a coalition government in the 40-member House. The coalition is also supported by two MGP men and one each from the NCP and independent, from outside.
The new development of five more Congressmen led by former speaker Shaikh Hassan splitting from the opposition camp would obviously strengthen Sardinha, having 16 Congress rebels in his camp, leaving only nine in the opposition camp (the 'real' Congress). While weakening the Congress, this would also help him in marginalising the BJP within the government.
This became evident when the CM yesterday told reporters at the Raj Bhavan that he will not drop revenue minister Mauvin Godinho from the cabinet, the demand made by the BJP last week. Sardinha was under immense pressure from his coalition partners to drop the most tainted politician.
Though Sardinha claims that he would not part away with 'friends' (the BJP), it is crystal clear that he is creating a situation for the BJP to either keep quite or quit the coalition. "Sardinha was neither strong nor weak, but now he would become much stronger", states Shaikh, the splinter group leader.
The claim made by Shaikh that the unconditional support is only from outside does not hold much water since he also admits in the same breath that they would accept the cabinet berths, if offered by Sardinha. "We are not in favour of any further expansion", states BJP state president Laxmikant Parsekar, inviting trouble.
Local NCP leader and its sole legislator Dr Wilfred de Souza, while welcoming the split, however fully agrees that the BJP just cannot afford expansion of the jumbo cabinet, considering its political base. Besides 11 from Sardinha's Goa People's Congress, three BJP men are also the ministers.
Sardinha and Shaikh also state separately that the real Congress is now out of the party. Sardinha has even hinted that he can form the Goa People's Congress government if he gets five more from the opposition Congress, making it 21. This is an obvious indication that the BJP cannot dominate the coalition any more.
"We are not against the BJP, but our programmes are different", quips Shaikh while NCP leader Dr de Souza also does not rule out the possibility of the Congress, led by Sardinha, ultimately coming to power. "You just wait and watch", states Sardinha, leaving political circles to guess what would be his next move.
