Hon'ble Minister for Tourism Mr Mathany Saldhana on his return from Spain this morning tired after a strenous jet lag announced his support without mincing words for "good clean governance" meaning his unstinted support to beleagured Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
For those who know Mr Saldhana since 1972 when he a Chardo landlord from Cansaulim spearheaded the Ramponkars movement had been the first activist in Goa at a time when Goa was just seeing the failing governance of late Dayanand Bandodkar. He later formed the Gomantak Lok Pox, he contested unsuccessfully several times until June 2002 when he was under surprising circumstances elected to the Cortalim Assembly constituency. He had never liked the Indian National Congress and it was quite obvious that if he had to lend support to the INC he would have to face the demands for the same seat from ex MLA Mauvin Godinho. The strenght of the Goa Legislative Assembly is 36 which means 18 BJP + 1 UGDP and the rest with the Indian National Congress + NCP + MGP + Independent The other four BJP members have resigned. With the expulsion case of Mr Ajgaonkar and Mandrekar for holding an office of profit being taken up on 3rd February, 2005 it was obvious for BJP to plead for trial of strenght on the floor of the House on 3rd February, 2005 But even the bitter critics of Mr Parrikar who wanted to see him go are now resigned to the fate of politics in the State that may follow in the event the BJP UGDP intends to occupy the Opposition benches. They say that there there are 12 MLAs who will have to vy for the Ministerial berths. Thus naturally the ex CMs will demand the first slot they are five then follows the ex Ministers who will demand the next set of Ministerial posts and then finally the one time ex Ministers and the new incumbents will be left high and dry. Therefore there could be a sort of potential horsetrading and afterall the name of the game is "development" whether of the State or self does not matter. In this situation the voters prefer that the Assembly be dissolved and fresh elections take place. Presidents rule seems to be the best bet and with a Governor Mr S C Jamir who was an ex Chief Minister and having nearly 50 years in politics administering a State of the size of Goa equivalent to a district would be good for the State and its people. Atleast the worst detractors of Parrikar realise that the pace of development set by him should not suffer and therefore they regret the new dispensation under leader of the United Legislators Mr Pratapsing Raoji Rane for he though a good administrator lacks the dynamism of Mr Parrikar . GODFREY J I GONSALVES borda margao goa [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your life partner online Go to: http://yahoo.shaadi.com/india-matrimony
