Former Goa CM and BJP leader Laxmikant Parsekar approached to join TMC?

PANAJI: Reliable sources from Prashant Kishor’s I-PAC team, working in Goa to do the groundwork for the All India Trinamool (AITC or TMC) Congress party in the run-up to the Assembly polls, confided to Indyatv.in that one of the senior leaders and ex-MLAs approached by them was none other than BJP leader Laxmikant Parsekar from the Mandrem constituency.

In addition to Parsekar, two more former MLAs and senior BJP leaders, including Dilip Parulekar from North Goa and one independent, incumbent MLA, may have also been approached to join the TMC, according to I-PAC sources who spoke to this reporter.

Our I-PAC source told us that Parsekar did not give the TMC representatives any commitment, but told them to keep in touch with him and contact him after Diwali.

Meanwhile, former Goa CM and Congress MLA from Navelim, Luizinho Faleiro has organized a press conference at a starred hotel in Panaji on Monday at 4.30 pm.

Coincidentally, Faleiro’s press conference venue is the Marriott Hotel, where TMC MPs Derek O’Brien and Prasun Banerjee have been staying, ever since their arrival in Goa last week.

Prashant Kishor is also expected to be present for the press conference and the trio (Kishor, O’Brien and Banerjee) are expected to announce the induction of Faleiro into the TMC, immediately after he announces/submits his resignation from the primary membership of the Congress party as well as his resignation as MLA of the Navelim Assembly Constituency.

It is also expected that Faleiro may be appointed as the Goa party in-charge of the TMC and it’s CM candidate or CM face for the forthcoming assembly polls and this announcement could also be made at the same press conference on Monday.

At the press conference, the TMC is expected to announce an open invitation to Goans (and particularly those in politics/ex-MLAs and sitting MLAs) to join hands with them to defeat the BJP and “herald in a new Goa”. While the TMC has indicated that it wants to go solo, like-minded parties, individuals, members of civil society and activists who share a common vision with the TMC will be welcomed into the fold to jointly take on the BJP, informed our I-PAC source.