The Hindu : Front Page : UGDP MLA backs Kamat Government

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Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007
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UGDP MLA backs Kamat Government

Special Correspondent

PANAJI: In a move, which came as a huge relief to the crisis-ridden Digambar Kamat Government, the lone legislator of the United Goan Democratic Party (UGDP) Atansio Monserrate withdrew from the BJP-led Goa Democratic Alliance (GDA) on Monday and backed the Congress-led Government.

In his letter to Governor S.C. Jamir, Mr. Monserrate said, “I am supporting the Congress-led Government to end the ‘political instability’ in the State.”

With this the Kamat Government’s chances of survival have strengthened — the Congress alliance support going up to 20 legislators, clearly ahead of the GDA, left with 19 in the 40-member Assembly.

Two MGP MLAs from the GDA camp and a Congress MLA are facing disqualification petitions before the Speaker.

Mr. Monserrate, a Congress rebel, who left the party in a huff ahead of the June 2 Assembly polls as the party had denied ticket to his wife, declared unconditional support to the Congress-led Government the moment it came to power.

Putting up a brave front, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of the Opposition Manohar Parrikar said the switching of alliance by Mr. Monserrate proved that the Government was in a minority.

“I did not take the lead in toppling the Government, it was Mr. Monserrate who took the initiative. We have no problem sitting in the Opposition,” Mr. Parrikar, who was tipped to be the Chief Minister of the Opposition alliance, said.

The Chief Minister said he welcomed the unconditional support from Mr. Monserrate and was confident that others from the GDA would follow him.

Adjourned

Speaker Pratapsinh Rane on Monday adjourned the hearing of the disqualification petitions against two MLAs of the MGP to Thursday and that of the petition against Congress MLA Victoria Fernandes to August 27.

The MGP MLAs have already challenged in the Supreme Court the Speaker’s decision to restrain them from voting in the House during a crucial floor test on July 30 through an ex parte ad interim relief order over disqualificatio n petitions filed by Congress MLAs.

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