Panaji, March 17: Senior Goa BJP leader Dayanand Mandrekar has demanded the party top brass to take a call on who should lead the state government, considering that the incumbent Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, is under a severely critical condition. The former three-time MLA said a decision should be taken by the BJP leadership at the earliest.

Mandrekar's demand comes a day after the Opposition has staked claim over the government formation in the state. The Congress, which is the single-largest party with 14 MLAs, submitted a letter to Governor Mridula Sinha, saying that the BJP-led regime is "unstable", and she should grant the Opposition a chance to prove their numbers.

Mandrekar said the situation would had never arrived if Parrikar's health not deteriorated. Since he is not in a fit condition to serve as the state's CM, a rejig now seems overdue.

"Had Manohar Parrikar been fit, there wouldn't have been a need to change the leader but his health is very critical now, deteriorating day after day. Party should take some decision. From centre to Goa, some decision should be taken. I think it'll be done," he said.

Reports on Saturday claimed that Parrikar's condition has reached a point of no-recovery, with the Assembly's Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo telling reporters that the doctors treating the Goa CM at his residence have said the chances of recovery are negligible.

A statement from the Goa Chief Minister's Office (CMO) negated the reports, saying that all vital health parameters of Parrikar continue to remain "stable".

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 17, 2019 12:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).