PANJIM: Three MLAs from Goa cross-voted in support of President-elect Droupadi Murmu defying their party’s support for the Opposition candidate former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha.
NDA-backed candidate Murmu was supposed to poll 25 votes including 20 of BJP, two MGP and three Independents supporting the ruling dispensation in Goa. But after counting of votes she polled 28 which indicated that she was the beneficiary of cross-voting.
The opposition Congress, AAP, Goa Forward and RG Party having a strength of 15 MLAs had extended their support to Sinha.
When contacted, Congress Legislative Party (CLP) Deputy Leader Sankalp Amonkar claimed that all 11 party MLAs and lone GFP legislator supported Sinha and denied that the Congress MLAs were involved in cross voting.
“Sinha got all votes of Congress and supporting GFP as our party had supported him,” said Amonkar.
When it was brought to his notice that the party had already sought disqualification of its two MLAs, Amonkar said that all 11 Members had pledged their support to Sinha.
BJP State president Sadanand Shet Tanavade said that all BJP MLAs and its supporting MLAs supported Murmu. “We had a strength of 25 MLAs and getting three more votes was a bonus for Murmu. Everybody knew that the Opposition-backed candidate will not win and I thank those MLAs who voted for our candidate.”
GFP president and MLA Vijai Sardessai chided Congress MLAs’ claim that they are united. “It’s news to me,” he said.
Congress working president and MLA Yuri Alemao said, “We are 11 members and definitely we all voted for our candidate. Voting was secret and I don’t know how BJP is confidently saying that our MLAs have cross voted. Was BJP president present during voting? It’s not right.” he said.
When asked about cross-voting, Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira said, “Sure it was not mine. I can’t answer who else. Why do you think it be Congress MLAs. It could be anybody else. I think Congress votes were intact.”
Stating that voting was secret, Adv Ferreira further said that it was not right for anyone to accuse anybody of cross-voting.
Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo said, “I am not aware of cross-voting. But I have voted for the candidate supported by Congress.”
