PANJIM: The Congress took to the social media to apologise to its voters for being unable to form the government despite being the single largest party in the Assembly.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Digvijay Singh tweeted on Monday morning saying, “Money power has won over people’s power. I apologise to the people of Goa as we could not muster the support to form the government.” He added, “But our struggle against communal forces and money power politics in Goa shall continue.”
Singh, who was in Goa to oversee the results on Saturday and the subsequent formation of government, held a marathon meeting on Sunday to elect the Congress Legislative Party leader. While the Congress leadership election lengthened through the day, and included a secret ballot, BJP with just 13 MLAs managed to cobble together a coalition with other parties and independents to reach the majority figure of 21 and stake claim to form the government.
A day earlier, on Sunday, Singh had tweeted, “BJP is busy in horse-trading, but we thought it was a party with morals. They want to undo the people’s mandate. Shameful!”, throwing an open challenge to the BJP to prove its majority before the Governor.
“We are ready to sit in opposition if BJP proves the majority. We have one Independent and NCP MLA and talks are on with Goa Forward,” AICC leader had told media persons responding to a question that BJP will be staking claim on Sunday evening.
While Congress assumed it had the support of Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte and Goa Forward’s three MLAs, the newly elected MLAs had already extended their support to BJP.
