While newly appointed state president of the Congress John Fernandes said he left it to the conscience of chief minister Manohar Parrikar whether to resign or not, the NCP not only demanded the chief minister’s resignation, but also the arrest of Tivim MLA Kiran Kandolkar, in whose constituency, the assault happened.
Wagh, a BJP legislator had attended a kirtan programme organised by Nilkant Halarnkar, state NCP president who lost the March 2012 assembly elections to the BJP’s Kiran Kandolkar. Wagh has openly complained that the BJP is ill-treating him and is rumoured to be negotiating with the NCP high command to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from North Goa on the NCP ticket.
Reportedly, the BJP had warned him not to associate with NCP leaders. But Halarnkar said that in the past, he had invited Congress leader Pratapsing Rane and even MGP leader Ramkrishna Dhavalikar for the religious kirtan programme
