PANJIM: The political drama initiated by Congress in Goa, that unfolded following the Karnataka election results, appears to have fizzled out with senior party leaders remaining indecisive on their next move.
The seven-day deadline given to Goa Governor Dr Mridula Sinha to recall the sitting BJP-led coalition government and invite Congress to form the next government, ends on Thursday. However, Congress seems to be in no hurry to take a call on its future course of action.
Speaking to Herald, All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary and Goa desk in-charge Dr A Chellakumar said, “We cannot act in a hurry. One has to understand that there is already a government in place and we had asked the Governor to recall the government. However that has not happened. Something is going to happen for sure, if not immediately, soon.”
Chellakumar and Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant Kavalekar were in Bangalore to attend the oath-taking ceremony of HD Kumaraswamy, who is heading a JD(S)-Congress coalition government.
While Kavalekar remained unavailable for comment, Chellakumar said he will meet the MLAs and senior leaders to decide how to go ahead. “At this stage I can tell you numbers are with us and we will prove that,” he stated.
Thirteen of 16 Congress MLAs, led by Kavalekar had on May 18 called on the Goa Governor staking claim to form the government in the State as it is the single largest party in the 40-member State Assembly. Urging the Governor to rectify its mistake committed on March 12, 2017, Congress had said that they have the numbers and can prove their majority on the Floor of the House within seven days.
In the 40-member State assembly, Congress has 16 MLAs, BJP has 13, MGP, Goa Forward Party and Independents are three each and NCP has one.
