PANJIM: The floor test on Thursday is expected to be a smooth affair for the BJP-led coalition government under Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar that is confident of the numbers at its command. For the Congress, on the other hand, despite emerging as the single largest party, proving its majority is going to be a tough task.
The Supreme Court, in a petition filed by the Congress challenging the Goa Governor’s decision to invite BJP to form the government, directed Congress and BJP to prove their majority through a floor test.
A one-day session of the Legislative Assembly has been summoned on Thursday at 11.00am. The ruling dispensation has appointed Panjim MLA-elect Siddharath Kunkalienkar as the protem speaker for the session, where floor test is the only item on the agenda after the swearing in of the MLAs.
“The only agenda for the day would be holding of a floor test to determine whether the Chief Minister administered the oath of office, has support of the majority,” the Court order stated.
Parrikar, who was sworn-in along with nine ministers on Tuesday evening, has the support of 22 MLAs – three each from MGP and Goa Forward and thee independent. Later, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Churchill Alemao also extended his support to the government.
Congress, on the other hand, has 17 MLAs in the 40-member Assembly. The regional parties and Independent MLAs have already submitted letters of support in favour of BJP.
“I will prove my majority on the Floor of the House on Thursday. I have the numbers,” Parrikar told media persons.
Congress too is confident of proving its majority and informed the Governor of this during their meeting on Tuesday afternoon. “We will prove our majority on the Floor of the House. We are the single largest party and hence we should be given the opportunity to prove majority,” Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Chandrakant Kavalekar said.
