BJP to constitute 5-member committee to review performance

Panaji, July 22 (UNI) The BJP will soon constitute a five-member fact-finding committee to study its performance in the June 2 elections to the 40-member Goa Legislative Assembly and ascertain reasons for not being able to secure a majority to form government in the state.

Disclosing this to UNI after the party's excecutive meet here today, the first after the polls, president of the Goa unit Shripad Naik, MP, said the committee would assess the party's performance constituency-wise and find out weaknesses, merits and demerits.

''This will help us face future elections with courage and conviction, rectifying the mistakes of the earlier elections,'' he said.

The executive committee, besides reviewing the socio-politico-economic situation following formation of the Congress-led coalition government in the state, had also decided to launch a membership drive. It was also decided to reconstitute various committees to strengthen the party at the grassroots level.

The party had decided to increase membership to at least 1.50 lakhs as against the existing 1.23 lakhs by the year-end. Various party wings including the SC/ST/OBC, women and youth, doctors and others, would also be further strengthened while widening their base.

It also decided to chalk out massive agitation programmes to protest 'price rise, bad public distribution system and health care under the coalition government headed by Digambar Kamat.

In its political resolution, the meeting alleged that the erstwhile coalition government headed by chief minister Prataplsingh Rane had indulged in ''gross misuse of government machinery and excessive money power to facilitate victory of its candidates in June 2 elections to retain power at any cost''.

It also pointed out that induction of parliamentary secretaries with cabinet status by the ''dummy chief minister'' had left a major burden on the state exchequer even as the drama over formation of the ministry and fight for prime posts exposed the chinks in the coalition partners.

Describing the coalition government as ''fragile and totally unstable regime'', another resolution said it had failed to take a single major decision on governance during the last 50 days in power.

''The aam aadmi is bleeding profusely and his fate doomed, while the chief minister is only rubbing salt on his wounds. Health care and power supply system have deteriorated and the public distribution system has turned inadequate leading to spiralling price rise of essential commodities'', it said.

Politicisation of the police force had resulted in failure of law and order in the state, which had turned out to be a destination for drug and narcotic traffickers, thus denting its image as a safe tourist destination, the resolution added.

The party warned it would not remain a silent spectator watching the total collapse of the governance in the state, but expose the government's shortcomings and misgovernance as a responsible and ''vigilant opposition''.

UNI