Parrikar decribes Digambar as puppet, predicts fall soon

Panaji, June 8 (UNI) Describing the government headed by new Chief Minister Digambar Kamat as a ''puppet regime'', BJP leader Manohar Parrikar today predicted its downfall soon ''under its own weight with in-built inherent contradictions''.

Reacting on the formation of the coalition government by Mr Kamat, Mr Parrikar said the regime had no ''long life as four of them sworn in today had different agendas.'' ''I need not make any effort to destabilise the government as it will crumble under its own weight,'' he quipped.

The BJP leader pointed out MGP Minister Ramakrishna Dhavalikar and Viswajit Rane, son of former chief minister Pratapsinh Rane as the godfathers of the puppet.

Mr Kamat had some capacity to administer but may not act as he was pushed into forming the goverment as a ''dummy''. The real power centre lay elsewhere, Mr Parrikar said.

Mr Kamat, as the compromise candidate for the CLP leadership, was at the mercy of the three with GPCC president Ravi Naik opting out at the last minute, he added.

The BJP leader said his party would not stake claim for the post of Speaker of the new House, but wished it should go to one of the smaller parties.

The Governor should have asked the CM to prove his majority in the House within 30 days of forming the goverment as the Congress had got a fractured mandate.

The BJP would otherwise move no-cofidence motion against the government during the inaugural session of the Assembly, he said.

Mr Parrikar also cautioned the administration against inaction on forces trying to threaten the BJP workers in communally-sensitive Curchorem.

''If the police fail, we have to retaliate suitably in self-defence,'' he added.

UNI