National

Goa Democratic Alliance to stake claim

Panaji: The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Goa Democratic Alliance (GDA) on Thursday decided to stake claim to form a government in the wake of withdrawal of support by the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and an independent to the Congress-led coalition Government and resignation of a Congress MLA.

The GDA claimed the support of two legislators of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), two of the Save Goa Front (SGF), one of the United Goan Democratic Party (UGDP) and independent legislator Anil Salgaoncar, apart from the BJP’s 14 members.

Senior BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy is here to take stock of the developments.

On Thursday, members of the Congress-led ruling coalition created uproarious scenes in the Assembly demanding that Speaker Pratapsinh Rane first decide the fate of a disqualification petition against Congress MLA Victoria Fernandes before transacting House business.

The Speaker wanted to follow procedure but the ruling benches refused to relent. Mr. Rane then adjourned the House for an hour and later till Monday when the ruling benches continued with their din.

The Opposition went on the offensive and demanded the dismissal of the Kamat-led Government.

Leader of the Opposition Manohar Parrikar said Governor S.C. Jamir (who is now in Delhi) should dismiss the Government immediately on his arrival.

MGP leader Sudin Dhavlikar, who sent in his resignation as Minister, said the two-member MGP was unhappy with the functioning of the Government and decided to withdraw support.

On the other hand, Ms. Fernandes, who was sulking for not being given a ministerial berth, said she resigned to protest against the humiliation meted out by her own party.

“The alliance, within a few days, will evolve a common minimum programme and sort out all issues between the coalition partners,” SGF president Churchill Alemao, who has been appointed convener of a steering committee of the GDA, said. Mr. Alemao is said to be the brain behind the present political coup.

Earlier, on Wednesday night, all the legislators belonging to the MGP, the SGF and the UGDP faxed a letter to Mr. Jamir about the withdrawal of support to the Kamat-led Government.

Because of the present political crisis, Goa could face a potential Constitutional crisis if the Assembly is unable to pass the annual budget by July 31, as the vote-on-account taken ahead of the June Assembly polls would lapse on that date.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu