Congress gives Guv 7 days to invite them to form govt

Team Herald

PANJIM: Thirteen of 16 Congress MLAS, led by Chandrakant Kavalekar on Friday called on Goa Governor Dr Mridula Sinha staking claim to form the government in the State by virtue of being the single largest party in the 40-member State Assembly. Urging the Governor to rectify the mistake made last year, Congress said they have the numbers and can prove their majority on the floor of the House within seven days.

Stating that the Governor was positive towards their request, the party has granted her seven days to recall the existing BJP-led coalition government and invite them to form the government. 

Three Congress MLAs – Jennifer Monserrate (Taleigao), Subhash Shirodkar (Shiroda) and Isidore Fernandes (Canacona) were absent from the delegation, which included All India Congress Committee Secretary and Goa desk in charge Dr A Chellakumar and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Girish Chodankar.

While Monserrate is on a family holiday in America, Shirodkar was out of State for his son’s college admission. Fernandes, who was operated upon earlier this week, remains admitted in hospital. 

“We undertake to prove our majority on the Floor of the House within seven days of swearing in. Kindly initiate the process of inviting us to form the government at the earliest,” Kavalekar said in the letter submitted to the Governor.

The Congress has attached a copy of the letter written to the Governor on March 12, 2017 in which they had staked claim to form the government after the results of 2017 Assembly elections, wherein the party emerged as the single largest party with 17 seats (currently 16).

“This is in continuation of my letter dated March 12, 2017 regarding inviting the undersigned to form the government of Goa as the Indian National Congress was the single largest party in the Goa Legislative Assembly,” Kavalekar said.

“Your Excellency is aware that Indian National Congress even as of date is the single largest party in the State Legislative Assembly having 16 elected representatives,” he has said.

“Despite being the single largest party, Manohar Parrikar was invited to be the Chief Minister and administered the oath of office and secrecy and consequently, the government headed by Parrikar was constituted,” Kavalekar added in the letter.

The Congress while staking claim has referred to the precedence in Karnataka. “It is also required to be noted that in Karnataka, in the recently concluded elections, despite the Indian National Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) which has more than the required numbers, staked claim to form the government, the Governor of Karnataka has invited B S Yeddyurappa of BJP to form the government apparently on the precedent that the single largest party is required to be invited to form the government,” reads the letter.

“This shows that the decision taken in 2017 in Goa was patently wrong,” adding that it would be imperative upon the Governor to follow the precedent followed in Karnataka. “Your Excellency is, therefore, urged to dismiss the present illegitimate government in the State and invite the leader of Indian National Congress Legislature Party to form the government,” the letter states.

Speaking to media persons after meeting the Governor, Kavalekar said the Governor assured them she would study the proposal and get back within seven days. “We have given her seven days to dissolve the current BJP government and invite us to form the government,” he stated. 

Kavalekar said that Governor has to rectify her mistake committed last year, by not inviting Congress to form the government. “We had the numbers that time and we have numbers today,” he commented. 

“The decision on Chief Minister will be taken after consulting all,” he said declining to make any statement on whether they are in touch with regional parties and Independents to get the required number. 

Later, Chellakumar said that if the Governor does not revert, they will decide the future course of action.