Congress may boycott Governor’s speech today

Team Herald

PANJIM: Congress is likely to boycott Goa Governor Mridula Sinha’s address to the State Legislative Assembly on Thursday, as an expression of its discontent towards her failure to call them to form the government despite the party having emerged as the single largest in the recent polls. 

The Congress Legislative wing (CLP) under Chandrakant Kavalekar will meet on Thursday at 10.30 am, one hour before the Assembly session to take a final call on the boycott. 

“The conduct of Goa Governor has been against the Constitution. Despite us emerging as the single largest party, she did not invite us to stake claim for government formation. The Governor was completely partial towards BJP,” Kavlekar said adding that the party is contemplating boycotting the Governor’s address on Thursday. 

The Governor is expected to spell out the policy decisions of the new government in her address. 

Kavlekar said Congress led an uproar in the Rajya Sabha and got the House adjourned protesting the stealing of the mandate in Goa and Manipur where it was not invited to form the government despite being the single largest party. “Since, they are protesting there, it is our duty to protest here too. We would have formed the government if the Governor had invited us. People had given us the mandate,” he stated.

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh’s substantive motion on the conduct of the Goa governor was admitted by the Rajya Sabha Wednesday morning. 

The CLP leader recalled that the party had submitted a letter to the Governor on March 12 night, staking claim to form the government (hours after BJP had already submitted support letters to the Governor); however, they were not invited. 

Congress won 17 seats, while BJP won 13 but managed to garner the support of nine MLAs, including three from MGP, three from Goa Forward and three independents. 

Congress is now left with 16 MLAs after Valpoi MLA Vishwajit Rane resigned hours after taking oath. He remained absent during the crucial trust vote.