Ahead of the assembly polls in Goa, Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday received a shot in the arm with former Goa and Maharashtra governor Mohammed Fazal joining the party.
"I do not have the greed to become minister. I have held positions much above it. My entry is not timed with elections. I thought before taking the decision and finally decided to join BJP," he told media persons in Panaji in the presence of BJP Goa chief Shripad Naik and leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar.
Fazal's wife Shirley Godinhoe Fazal, a former Congress general secretary of local Benaulim Block in south Goa, was also present on the occasion.
Fazal was governor during November 1999 to October 2002 in Goa and later in Maharashtra between October 2002 and December 2004. Post-Maharashtra assignment, Fazal made Goa as his abode and is a voter of Taleigao constituency in North Goa.
"I thought that I will devote my life to study and literature. But things happening in Goa made me restless. Congress regime unleashed corruption and is harassing the people. I thought this is a time for me to act and be part of the political set-up, which gave good governance to the state," he said.
"I was a Congressman right from my student days. In 1978, I formally joined Congress and later resigned from it in 1985 when Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister," the 84-year-old leader said.
After a long gap, Fazal joined BJP in the year 1996, only to resign three years later when he was made governor.
"I was offered Bihar governor's post during Indira Gandhi's time but I refused to accept it. Goa governor's post was not a gift, but was in fact offered due to my capabilities to handle such posts," Fazal said.