AERIAL VIEW
Now in 2022, BJP has scored 20, a near clear majority of 21, and it has crossed more than 48 hours, and the saffron brigade seems to be in no hurry.
The three independents and the Sudin Dhavalikar led MGP have all supported the BJP, so now their number is 25.
The Opposition, on the other hand, Congress plus GFP is 12, AAP 2 and RGP is one.
So what is the reason Dr Pramod Sawant is delaying in staking the claim?
Soon after the result, Vishwajit Rane had said that he could not predict whether Pramod Sawant would be the CM face. He said that “it was a sensitive question”.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
In 2017, despite the BP being in the minority, there was a sense of urgency to form the government as Nitin Gadkari led the BJP’s charge against the single largest party then.
As a result, the BJP garnered the support of eight MLAs (3 MGP, 3 GF and 2 Independents) and late Manohar Parrikar staked claim to form the government within 30 hours of government while the Congress was caught napping.
Now in 2022, BJP has scored 20, a near clear majority of 21, and it has crossed more than 48 hours, and the saffron brigade seems to be in no hurry.
The three independents and the Sudin Dhavalikar led MGP have all supported the BJP, so now their number is 25.
The Opposition, on the other hand, Congress plus GFP is 12, AAP 2 and RGP is one.
So what is the reason Dr Pramod Sawant is delaying in staking the claim?
Soon after the result, Vishwajit Rane had said that he could not predict whether Pramod Sawant would be the CM face. He said that “it was a sensitive question”.
It is being said that many in the new BJP Legislative Party had reservations over naming Sawant as CM.
The second issue is many newly-elected MLAs like Ravi Naik, Govind Gaude, and Shiroda MLA Subash Shirodkar have reservations about taking support of Sudin Dhavalikar’s MGP. The MLAs are of the opinion that Sudin had crossed all the limits in criticising the Dr Pramod Sawant government.
Interestingly, Dhavalikar – an alliance partner of TMC, also said he would never support Sawant and the BJP. So why should we take them in Government formation, ask MLAs?
The third issue is about the cabinet berths.
If BJP takes the support of MGP, MLAs feel they should not give any ministries to MGP. Also, there are many claimants for the 12-member cabinet.
Dr Chandrakant Shetye (Independent), Alexio Reginald Lourenco (Independent), Antonio Vas (Independent), former CM Ravi Naik, Rohan Khaunte etc.
The BJP has simply said that there was no hurry in the formation of the government, and as such, they are waiting for the Central observers to arrive and hold talks with the newly elected legislators.
The CM, Dr Sawant, has said that the staking claim and swearing-in will be decided after Monday as the Governor issues notification of dissolution of the current assembly.
Nonetheless, Goa knows that all is not well within the BJP, and there are issues between Sawant and Rane, which is delaying the whole process. As we all know, Rane has extra weightage this time with his wife Deviya Rane also getting elected from Poriem.
However, whatever may be the contention of Rane, the BJP top brass will not replace Sawant at least for a year as he has steered the party to a historic win. We call it historic because he was fighting solid anti-incumbency, and all the experts had ruled him out totally. But he strongly faced all the issues along with Devendra Fadnavis, and the results are there for all to see.