Panaji, Nov 9 (IANS): Former Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Thursday demanded the resignation of state Bharatiya Janata Party President Vinay Tendulkar "in the interest of the party".

Parsekar, who has been taking on the state BJP leadership after his arch rival Dayanand Sopte was included in the party last month, said that under Tendulkar's leadership the saffron party was suffering in Goa.

"I am not saying this because of any personal grievance. But in the interests of the party, Vinay Tendulkar has to resign. He is acting like a puppet and has no decision-making power. The entire party set up under him has to change," Parsekar told the media before attending a party meeting at the residence of former Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza late on Thursday.

D'Souza, the minority face of the Goa BJP for almost two decades, has also been slamming the state party leadership, including Parrikar, ever since he was dropped as cabinet minister in October, on account of his ill-health, according to Tendulkar.

While Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's prolonged illness has already landed the BJP in Goa in a protracted crisis, the decision by the saffron party to induct Congress MLAs into the party fold has triggered further controversy and fissures in the party.