Minister bats for regional party politics in Goa

PANAJI: The only way for Goa to play a decisive role in national politics is to have a strong regional party, said town and country planning minister and Goa Forward Party president Vijay Sardesai as he highlighted the success of regional parties in Telangana, Odisha and Tamil Nadu.
The minister, who is a leading member of the Manohar Parrikar-led coalition government, was speaking in Dubai.
Explaining his thoughts on regional politics in the backdrop of the recent political developments Sardesai said, “the success of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in Telangana, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha and DMK in Tamil Nadu have shown beyond doubt that regionalistic parties are more efficient and trustworthy and powerful in our local political landscape.”
The minister rued that Goa has lagged behind in forming a true regional party which has resulted in “wanton interference in creating policies and decisions skewed” against Goans by national parties including the BJP and the Congress.
“The only way to play a decisive role in national politics is to be a strong regionalistic party. Otherwise Goa, which has been everybody’s playground except for the Goans will continue to be so,” he said.