PANJIM: The Floor test on Thursday is expected to be a smooth affair
for the BJP-led coalition government under Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who
is confident of the numbers at its command, while for the Congress party,
despite emerging as single largest party during the recent poll, it is going to
be tough task to prove its majority.
In a petition filed by Congress challenging Goa Governor’s
decision to invite BJP to form the government, the Supreme Court directed
Congress and BJP to prove their majority through Floor test in a bid to form
the next State government.
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The one-day session of the State Legislative Assembly is
been summoned on Thursday at 11.00am. Ruling dispension has appointed its MLA
Siddharat Kuncolienkar as the protem speaker for the session- where floor test
is the only agenda.
“The only agenda for the day would be holding of a floor
test to determine whether the Chief Minister administered the oath of office,
has support of the majority,” the Court order stated.
Parrikar, who was sworn-in along with nine ministers on
Tuesday evening, has the support of 22 legislators- three each from MGP and Goa
Forward and thee independent. Of late, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) sole
legislator Churchill Alemao has also extended his support to the Government.
On the other hand, Congress has only 17 legislators to prove
its majority in the 40-member State Assembly. The regional parties and
independent MLAs have already submitted support letters in favour of BJP.
“I will prove my majority on the Floor of the House on
Thursday. I have the numbers,” Parrikar told media persons.
Congress too is confident of proving its majority and the
same they have informed the Governor during their meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
“We will prove our majority on the Floor of the House. We are the single
largest party and hence we should be given opportunity to prove majority,”
Congress legislative party (CLP) leader Chandrakant Kavalekar said.
Parrikar, whose party has 13 MLAs, had staked claim to form
the government on Sunday late evening mustering the support of the GFP and MGP
besides two Independents, at a time when Congress was busy electing their CLP
leader. The party however submitted letter to Governor at Sunday mid-night to
stake claim for government formation.
Parrikar made ‘home coming’ with the new government
formation, after his party legislative wing resolved to elect him as their
Chief Minister. The BJP resolution got support from MGP and Goa Forward also.
