PANAJI: The BJP said Saturday that it was committed to "coalition dharma" and sought to control damage after one of its ministers accused a coalition partner of having "personal interest" in the leadership change in Goa.
BJP leader and state minister Nilesh Cabral said Friday that Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai had "personal interest" in pressing for a leadership change.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has been ailing since February this year and recently underwent month-long treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi.
Cabral's statement evoked a strong reaction from Sardesai, also a minister, who said if he had any personal interest, he would have been somewhere else.
Goa BJP chief Vinay Tendulkar issued a statement Saturday, saying "BJP is fully committed to coalition dharma and mutual trust and respect for constituent parties."
He dismissed as misleading the reports on Cabral's statement.
Tendulkar pointed out that BJP national president Amit Shah recently met leader of both the allies, Sudin Dhavalikar of MGP and Vijai Sardesai of GFP, and discussed the political situation in Goa with them.