PANJIM: Hours after the Supreme Court On Monday directed a floor test in Goa to decide who has a majority, Congress party MLAs met Governor Mridula Sinha asking her to invite them to prove their majority on the floor of the House, since the party had emerged as the single largest in the polls.
Interestingly, Congress’ claim of having the support of majority MLAs came just hours before Manohar Parrikar was sworn in as Chief Minister along with nine Ministers that include three from Goa Forward, two from MGP and two Independent MLAs. The time gap between the two developments was a mere three hours.
Congress charged that BJP used muscle and money power to pressurise the non-Congress MLAs to form a coalition government. The party had demanded that the swearing-in ceremony be postponed.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, CLP leader Chandrakant Kavalekar said that it was pointed out to the Governor that her invitation to BJP to form the government, without first giving an opportunity to the single largest party, militated against the essential democratic rights of the people of the State who have chosen Congress as the single largest party.
“We assured Governor that we have the requisite support of the majority of the legislators and are in position to prove the same on the floor of the House,” Kavalekar said adding that on March 12 night, they had submitted a letter to Governor staking claim to form the government.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Luizinho Faleiro said, “Governor does not have the right to decide who is in majority by having a head count of the legislators. The head count and strength should be proved on the floor of the House. Congress being single largest party should have been invited to form the government.”
He said the Governor was apprised of the fact that BJP did not have any pre-poll alliance nor was it given a mandate. “BJP not only lost the mandate but their Chief Minister was defeated and so also six ministers,” he stated.
