from Daijiworld Media Network - Goa (MB)
Panaji, Jul 29: Goa will witness hectic political activities on Monday when Digamber Kamat-led government will tests its majority on the floor of the state legislative assembly.
The 40-member legislative assembly will be in session at 2.30 p.m.
Withdrawl of support by alliance partner, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak party (MGP) and resignation by a congress lady legislator Victoria Fernandes has scaled down Kamat government into minority.
The BJP on the other hand has cobbled an alliance with MGP, Save Goa Front, United Goans Democratic party and an independent candidate Anil Salgaoncar ralling behind it to claim the power. Goa Democratic Alliance, a BJP-led formation, has already staked its claim to form the next government.
The GDA, on their Delhi visit on Saturday, has also paraded all its 20 legislators and Congress legislator Victoria Fernandes, who have resigned as member of legislative assembly, before the president of India Pratibha Patil.
Goa Democratic Alliance, a BJP-led political formation, paraded all its 20 legislators before the President of India. BJP chief Rajnath Singh led the delegation to the President.
The scene will again shift to Goa legislative assembly which will meet on Monday.
Goa speaker Pratapsingh Rane will play a major role tomorrow. The speaker is yet to accept the resignation of congress legislator Victoria Fernandes and the congress-led camp is still counting Fernandes as their legislator.
``I have 20 legislators on my side... Fernandes' resignation is not yet accepted,'' Goa chief minister Digamber Kamat had told reporters on Saturday indicating that the congress is `not lagging in the number game.'
The GDA, too brags support of 20 legislators, which includes 14 BJP, two save goa front, two MGP, one United Goans Democratic party and an independent. ``Another independent Vishwajeet Rane is inclined towards us and he will support us when we form the government,'' Manohar Parrikar, who is tipped to be the chief minister, if GDA grabs power, stated.
Parrikar said that there are enough indications that Rane, son of the speaker, will join the group.
Jr Rane, on the other hand, denied such possibility. ``I have a very good relations with Parrikar but I have promised Congress president Sonia Gandhi that I will be with the congress party for next five years,'' Rane stated.
Adding to the political scenario, the political circle is abuzz with the news about possible disqualification petition against both the MGP legislators. The hint of what is going to come was given on Saturday when MGP general secretary Pradip Naik addressed a press conference to claim that ``legislators did not consult the party before withdrawing the support.''
The MGP, within one hour, expelled Naik for his statement and its president Pandurang Raut conveyed another press conference to clarify that their legislators have acted by taking party into confidence.
As Governor S C Jamir has asked the chief minister to hold the floor test on Monday, it is expected that Goa government's future will be decided on the floor or else centre will have to intervene in the matter going by the existing crisis.
Fast-moving events in pictures - by Rajtilak Naik
Daijiworld Media Network - Goa
BJP state president Shripad Naik addressing a press conference at the BJP house at Panaji on Saturday. Also seen are the vice presidents Kunda Chodankar and Prakash Velip
Congress Party workers and other office-bearers during the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee meeting which was held in the GCCI conference hall at Panaji on Saturday
Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party president Pandurang Raut addressing an emergency press conference at Panaji on Saturday night to clear his Party's stand after his Party General Secretary announced that Party has not taken any decision to support BJP-led coalition in the state. Two MGP MLAs are supporting the BJP led coalition
BJP Gives Pratibha a Taste of Goan Political Curry
Economic Times
New Delhi: The BJP on Saturday took its battle for Goa to the Rashtrapathi Bhavan by parading 20 MLAs before President Pratibha Patil, as a proof of its claim that the Congress-led state government was reduced to a minority and that the saffron party and its allies should be allowed to form a new government.
The BJP move, meant to put pressure on the Centre against any attempt to provide more time for the crisis-torn Digambar Kamat government or any design to impose President’s rule in the state, also gave Ms Patil, just a week into her Presidency, her first brush with the rough and tumble of politics after taking over the high office.
Led by BJP chief Rajnath Singh, the 20 MLAs, including the BJP allies like Mr Pandurang and Mr Ramkrishna Dhavalikar of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and Mr Churchill Alemao of the Save Goa Front urged Ms Patil to ensure a sitting of the state assembly on Monday. Some reports said even the dissident Congress leader Victoria Fernandes also announced support to the BJP and was part of the delegation that met the President. “
The Goa government has been reduced to minority and has deliberately skipped the sitting of the assembly on Friday. The state Assembly must sit on Monday, July 30 without fail,” leader of the Opposition in Goa assembly Manohar Parrikar and Mr Rajnath Singh told reporters after the delegation submitted a memorandum to the President.
On its part, a Rashtrapati Bhawan spokesman said: “The President told the MLAs that Goa Governor (S C Jamir) will uphold the Constitution.”While talking to reporters, Mr Parrikar also claimed support of Independent MLA Vishwajeet Rane, the son of Speaker and former Congress chief minister Pratapsinh Rane. “Vishwajeet has sent me a text message, which I have in my mobile phone, extending support to the BJP-led Goa Democratic Alliance (GDA),” he said.
In their memorandum, signed by 20 MLAs of the GDA, they have demanded that there should be a direction that the first agenda on the Monday should be a trial of strength, which must be done in the presence of the observer and the proceedings should be videographed.
Among the MLAs was Atanasio alias Babush Monserrate, Town and Country minister in the previous Parrikar government, who was sacked following allegations of irregularities in the construction sector.
The Great Goan Political 'Tiatr':