Team Herald
PANJIM: Having emerged as the single largest party, Congress on Sunday will stake claim to form the next State government, after it has elected its Legislative Party leader.
Immediately after the election results were out, Congress held a series of meetings on Saturday evening to decide strategy to stake claim to form the next government.
Member of Parliament K C Venugopal and All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Digvijay Singh who were down to oversee the election results held meetings with the probable chief ministerial candidates – Luizinho Faleiro, Digambar Kamat and Pratapsingh Rane.
Speaking to media persons in the midst of the meetings, Singh said that although the party was expecting a clear majority, it managed to get 17 MLAs and one independent Rohan Khaunte backed by them. “We have started talking to non-BJP MLAs for an alliance. It includes MGP and Goa Forward as NCP’s Churchill Alemao has already expressed his willingness to support us,” he stated, adding, “However, let me make it clear that there won’t be any compromise on the promises made by us in our election manifesto.”
The AICC leader said that the newly elected MLAs will meet on Sunday to elect their leader (Chief Minister), following which the Congress party will stake claim to form the government. “By tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon we will go to the Governor with the CLP leader’s name and support letter of the people elected either of regional parties or independents,” he said adding that the party is looking for more than 21 members to form the government.
According to sources, Digambar Kamat is the first choice of the elected members as Chief Minister followed by Luizinho Faleiro. It is learnt that Rane would be appointed as Speaker.
Speaking to media persons, Kamat refused to say anything on the chief minister post merely stating, “The decision will be taken by the High Command and I will respect it.”
Faleiro maintained silence on the issue, and Rane too said he is not a contender for the post nor did he stake claim for it.
Congress, which has 18 MLAs, including the Independent from Porvorim, takes it tally to 19 with Alemao’s support. It is learnt that Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar, who is learnt to be a close aide of Kamat, is expected to extend his support to the Congress, which will then take their numbers to 20.
Congress is in talks with Goa Forward and MGP, who both have won three seats each. AICC has authorised Singh and Venugopal to hold talks with other regional parties and independent MLAs to get their support.
However, if MGP swings to the BJP and so do Khaunte and Gaonkar, then BJP is through, even without debating which way Goa Forward will go.
If Congress gets Goa Forward and MGP with 6 seats together to back it, we may see a Congress government with a consensus Chief Minister.
And yet, do not rule out the alternative of the MGP, sensing the situation demanding Chief Ministership from the Congress.
When Singh was told that Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said BJP will stake claim for government formation, Singh said, “This is utter frustration of Parrikar who is not even close to a majority. BJP with their ego and arrogance believe they can change people’s perspective with money and muscle power but today no one is sellable. Parrikar needs to be more a Defence Minister than indulge in State politics.”
