Congress top brass to review Goa’s political scenario

While Chief Minister Digambar Kamat left for Delhi on an official trip, Goa's political scenario will be discussed at the high command level during his stay there, sources said. This is because dissidents in the ruling camp are in touch with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the sources added.

Ten days ago, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary in-charge of Goa desk B K Hariprasad had meet Congress legislators and even some non-Congress ministers in the cabinet over the simmering disenchantment in the ruling faction. The Goa BJP may not have got the sanction from their high command to join any new dispensation that may arise in the event of any major problems in the Congress but some of their local leaders are learnt to have discussed the prevailing situation with some dissident leaders. Outgoing president and North Goa member of parliament (MP) Shripad Naik had firmly said 'No' to any permutations and combinations. But with Laxmikant Parsekar in the seat, things may not be the same, sources said.

Analysts say the BJP obviously is trying to ensure that there is a split in the Congress legislature wing in Goa as it happened in 1999 so that it can capitalize on it further. The veiled threat given by a couple of legislators that they would not hesitate to quit the party if their demand of change of leadership is not acceded to, has put the high command on the defensive.

Hariprasad has submitted his report on Goa politics and the dissidents are eagerly awaiting for a reply from the high command. The dissidents are propping Public Works Department Minister Churchill Alemao as the new leader of CLP with Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane as the deputy, sources said.