Ex-Goa CM Laxmikant Parsekar blames Manohar Parrikar for BJP's defeat in Goa elections 2017

Blaming the present Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar as being the reason behind Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) poor showing and defeat in the Goa elections 2017, ex-CM of state Laxmikant Parsekar has attacked his own party, stating 'forming government in Goa was not right'.

BJP had won 14 seats in the elections, finishing second behind Congress. Claiming that it was Parrikar calling the shots, Parsekar in an exclusive to Republic TV said, "I took the responsibility of defeat but it was Manohar Parrikar under whose leadership we fought the election."

The former CM of Goa also mentioned that his party made a mistake by forming the government, despite not having the majority.

"During the campaign, we sensed that people are not happy with us, they would vote against us, and election results proved that our apprehension was right. We fell short of a majority, but still, we formed the government in Goa, which was not right," he added.

BJP had won 14 seats in the 2017 elections, but pipped their arch-rivals Congress to power after getting into an alliance with MAG, NCP and Independents to take their tally beyond the 20-mark in the 40-seat assembly. Parikkar, who had left his role of Defence minister, became the state's CM for a second time.

Goa has been a state of political warfare, where earlier this week, two Congress leaders - Dayanand Sopte and Subhash Shirodkar - jumped the ship and joined BJP after flying to Delhi and meeting Amit Shah. It meant that Congress' figure in the state fell down from 16 to 14, while BJP added to their 14 seats to make it 16, becoming the single largest party.

Ever since coming to power, the BJP government in Goa has been under immense pressure by the opposition, given the health concerns of the CM. Parikkar, on more than a couple of occasions, has underwent medical treatment, leaving the seat of CM vacant.

READ: Goa Power Tussle: BJP's Vishwajit Rane Lured Two MLAs, Claims Congress

Congress, trying to find a way to dissolve the government, had also given a written letter to the Governor of the state in September, staking claim to form the government. It came after Parikkar had held a meeting with BJP President Amit Shah, wherein he informed the party supremo to appoint a new CM for the state. Though, his suggestion was dismissed by Shah, who reiterated that Parikkar will continue after he makes a successful recovery.