Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Saturday, 15 September.
The Chief Minister was scheduled to fly to Delhi on Saturday, for his follow-up treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), a senior official had told PTI. He was reportedly flown in at around 10:30 am on a “special flight”, according to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
Parrikar, 62, is currently undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment at a private hospital at Candolim in North Goa.
“Goa CM will reach AIIMS, Delhi at 1 pm today. Amit Shah and Modiji are monitoring the situation in Goa. Portfolios that were with the CM will be distributed among ministers so that administration runs smoothly. Parrikarji will continue to serve as CM”, Michael Lobo, Deputy Speaker of the Goa Assembly had told ANI earlier on Saturday.
Parrikar had returned from the US in the first week of September, following which he was admitted to the hospital in Candolim. Earlier this year, he had undergone a three-month-long treatment in the US.
The CM had spoken to BJP chief Amit Shah on Friday, 14 September, and it was decided that he would continue as the chief minister of Goa, a party leader said.
"Parrikar spoke to Shah and briefed him about the political situation in the state, and also informed him about his health condition. It was decided that Parrikar will continue as the chief minister but he might give some of his portfolios to his cabinet colleagues," the leader told PTI.
“By next week, the government will work out the exact arrangement through which the work burden on Parrikar could be reduced. A thought would also be given to replacing the two ailing ministers in the cabinet, Pandurang Madkaikar and Francis D’Souza,” the leader said.
BJP to Send Team to Goa: Reports
The BJP will send a team to Goa on Monday, 17 September, to "explore alternatives", in the light of worsening health condition of Parrikar, reported NDTV, quoting sources.
The Goa CM had discussed the step with BJP president Amit Shah, NDTV reported. He reportedly called Shah and said that he “cannot continue to work as usual.”
However, an India Today report said that the party will send observers to Goa on Saturday, 15 September, to assess “if he could be replaced.”
Goa BJP Holds State Level Meet
The Goa BJP held a meeting of its state-level core committee on Friday, 15 September, and later met Parrikar.
The party's core committee, which met at Mapusa on Friday, comprised three Members of Parliament from the state (two Lok Sabha and one Rajya Sabha) as well as senior leaders.
While the party did not reveal details of the meeting, a participant, on condition of anonymity, said it was a “general meeting” which discussed the “existing political situation” in Goa.
No Vacancy For Goa CM, Says Alliance Partner
Leaders of the Goa Forward Party and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, both partners in his government, also met Parrikar for the first time since the chief minister returned from the United States on 7 September.
Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai told reporters that he visited Parrikar to greet him on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi and inquire about his health. Replying to a query on GFP's stand in the event of Parrikar resigning, Sardesai said he wouldn't answer the question as "there is no vacancy right now".
"If there is a vacancy, then we will discuss," he said.
(With inputs from PTI, NDTV and India Today.)
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