We’ll speak to ally about it: Vinay Tendulkar

PANAJI: After GFP vice-president Atanasio Monserrate announced that he will contest the

Panaji

bypoll, BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar said they would talk to the alliance partner over the issue. Monserrate’s decision has compelled GFP president and deputy chief minister Vijai Sardesai to also “examine the issue”. GFP is a coalition partner of the BJP-led coalition government. Sardesai told reporters that Monserrate had mentioned to him in passing about his intentions to contest the bypoll.


Not too long ago, Sardesai was against MGP, the other alliance partner of the BJP government, contesting the Shiroda bypoll and had even met former chief minister Manohar

Parrikar

asking him to take action against MGP.

‘Will examine Panaji bypoll issue and decide’

When asked about his own party member contesting the Panaji byelection, Sardesai said he has “decided not to get into any Plan A, Plan B and Plan C”.

“I considered it my responsibility to ensure stability when Manohar Parrikar was ailing and continued to be CM. Now we have a stable government that just won the vote of confidence. There is a good relation between MGP and BJP and they will handle themselves, I will not interfere in this. Similarly, we will look into what is our issue and take an appropriate decision,” he said.

On whether he will dissuade Monserrate from contesting from Panaji, Sardesai said, “I am not saying I am trying. I will examine indepth and take an appropriate decision as soon as possible.”

The constituency has fallen vacant following the death of former chief minister Manohar Parrikar.

Monserrate had said on Tuesday that he would “contest the Panaji byelection and there is no two ways about it”. He also said he wants to contest for the development of Panaji. “Last time I did not contest the 2017 byelection because Manohar Parrikar returned as chief minister,” he said.

During the last byelection in Panaji, Monserrate first announced his plans to contest from Panaji and at the last minute he joined

Goa Forward Party

to clear the way for Parrikar in the state capital.

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