from daijiworld's special correspondent in Panaji

Panaji, Feb 17: : Ahead of state assembly polls, Goa the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday received a shot in the arm with former Goa and Maharashtra Governor Mohammed Fazal joining the party.
 
"I don't have a greed to become a 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 reporters here 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 present on the occasion.
 
Fazal was Governor during November 1999 to October 2002 in Goa and later between October 2002 to December 2004 in Maharashtra. Post-Maharashtra assignment, Fazal made Goa as his abode and is a voter of Talegao constituency in North Goa.
 
"I thought that I would 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 Govenor.
 
"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 in fact was offered due to my capabilities to handle such posts," Fazal said.