The Hindu : Front Page : Crisis in Goa as three BJP MLAs quit

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 30, 2005

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Front Page

Crisis in Goa as three BJP MLAs quit

By Anil Sastry

PANAJI, JAN. 29. In a day of swift political developments, three MLAs from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party put in their papers, reducing itto a minority in the 40-member Assembly. Three Ministers belonging to regional parties also withdrew their support to the 32-month-old Manohar Parrikar Government. The BJP now has 18 MLAs.

The three BJP MLAs and two Ministers met the Governor, S.C. Jamir, who cut short his visit to his home State and arrived here this morning.

The BJP MLAs who resigned included the Taleigao MLA, Atansio alias Babush Monserrate, who resigned from the Council of Ministers on Friday after being stripped of the Town and Country Planning Department portfolio, the Poinguinim MLA, Isidore Fernandes, who recently won the by-election on the BJP ticket after resigning from the Assembly as a Congress MLA, and Francisco alias Micky Pacheco, who had merged his United Goan Democratic Party (UGDP-Micky) with the BJP on Thursday.

The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party MLA, Ramakrishna alias Sudin Dhavlikar, the independent MLA, Filipe Neri Rodrigues, both Ministers,met the Governor and conveyed their decision to withdraw their support.The UGDP general secretary, Radharao Gracias, submitted a letter withdrawing his party's support, while its lone MLA and Tourism Minister, Matanhy Saldanha, was out of the country.

The Governor was learnt to have said that he would have to step in to ensure a stable government, while expressing displeasure over the BJP's "attitude of inducting MLAs from other parties by various means."

However, Mr. Parrikar claimed that he was still the Chief Minister, saying that the Raj Bhavan lawns were not the place to prove the majority and that he was prepared to prove it on the floor of the Assembly. He had the required numbers and was in a comfortable position, he claimed.

Governor `partisan'

He told presspersons that Mr. Jamir was acting in a "partisan manner just like a Congressman." He said that the two Ministers had not submitted the resignation letters to him, which was mandatory. Mr. Parrikar said Mr. Saldanha was still with him. Mr. Parrikar said he had expected the present situation before taking action against Mr. Monserrate, who led the `coup' against his Government.

Resignations accepted

The Speaker, Vishwas Satarkar, told The Hindu that he had accepted the resignation of the three MLAs after being satisfied that they were "genuine and voluntary." However, he did not accept the resignation of the Transport Minister, Pandurang Madkaikar, BJP MLA for Cumbarjua, after hefelt that the member was under tension.

The BJP State chief, Rajendra Arlekar, accused that Mr. Jamir was calling even BJP MLAs to the Raj Bhavan and asking them to resign from the Assembly.

Congress stakes claim

Leaders of the Opposition Congress, which has 15 MLAs, the support of an NCP MLA and the MLAs of three regional parties, met the Governor and staked their claim to form the Government. Ms. Alva, who met Mr. Jamir separately, told presspersons: "We are the largest party and it is up to the Governor to take a decision."

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