Date:04/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/04/stories/2005020413031100.htm

National

Left seeks early elections in Goa

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 3. The Left parties today disagreed over the manner in which a new Government in Goa was installed and suggested that early elections be called to end the "deepening crisis."

The Communist Party of India and the All-India Forward Bloc also found fault with the Speaker, Vishwas Satarkar, for his action in disqualifying the independent MLA, Filipe Neri Rodrigues, and going in for a voice vote.

However, the CPI secretary, D. Raja, was of the view that making the Independent MLA a Minister reflects the "deepening crisis in the State." He said the matter should by dissolving the assembly and leaving it to the people of Goa to resolve it at the earliest.

The AIFB secretary, G. Devarajan, said that while his party did not approve of the Speaker's action, it felt that the Governor, S.C. Jamir, should not have acted in a hurry by swearing in a new Chief Minister.

The Telugu Desam Party president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, condemned the manner in which the new Government was installed in Goa. He said the party has been of the view that no political person should be appointed as Governor.

"After swearing in a new Chief Minister, why no time frame was set to seek a vote of confidence?" he asked.