Panaji, Jun 23 (TOI): A medical team should certify if chief minister Manohar Parrikar is capable of handling the responsibilities of the post and the 20-odd portfolios that he holds, the Congress said on Friday.

Expressing doubts over Parrikar’s health, Congress said that the former was unable to work for more than five hours at a stretch and decision on crucial issues are getting delayed.

“There is still no governance even after the chief minister has returned. We can’t wait for the entire term saying that he is not well,” Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar said.

Chodanakar said that the entire state remained in the dark over Parrikar’s health condition which had given rise to doubts over his ability to handle the pressures of the job and the political tension that comes with it.

“The chief minister’s medical fitness is not ascertained. Only a medical team can certify if someone is fit or not,” Chodankar said.

The Congress urged Parrikar to focus on his health and appoint an interim chief minister instead. “Today the chief minister is working like an administrative executive. He has assumed the role of the chief secretary,” Chodankar said.

Chodankarmade it clear that he was not launching a personal attack on Parrikar. “I empathize with Parrikar. It is not like the Congress is attacking a sick person. But as the principal opposition, we have a constitutional duty to challenge the government when it does not do things properly,” he said.

The state party president also told the state BJP unit to stop trying to garner sympathy through Parrikar’s illness.

Chodankar also said that while critical decisions on plastic use, electricity and water supply are pending, the government seemed interested in providing relief to casino operators.

Reacting to Congress’ statements, the BJP said it was confident of the chief minister’s capabilities.