Daijiworld Media Network - Goa (MB
from special correspondent
Panaji, Jul 30: With three disqualification petitions pending with the Goa assembly speaker, the result of Monday's floor test by chief minister Digamber Kamat to prove his majority in the Assembly has become uncertain.
Governor S C Jamir has asked the chief minister to undertake the floor test when the House meets at 2.30 pm on Monday.
While the disqualification petition against Congress MLA Victoria Fernandes, who has resigned and extended support to the BJP-led formation, is pending with Speaker Pratapsingh Rane, the Congress on Monday filed a similar plea against Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLAs -- Sudin Dhavalikar and Dipak Dhavalikar for withdrawing support to the government.
If the Speaker restrains the Dhavalikar duo from participating in the crucial floor test, both sides - Congress -led ruling coalition and BJP-headed Goa Democratic Alliance (GDA) - will have 18 legislators each, excluding Rane.
In the case of a tie, the speaker will have the right to exercise the casting vote, which will decide the fate of the 51-day-old Kamat Government.
The GDA, which has claimed the support of 20 MLAs in the 40-member House, has begun exploring legal recourses to ensure that the Speaker does not restrain MGP legislators from voting.
Both the rival camps are engaged in hectic political activities to finalize their action plan for the crucial trial of strength in the country's most politically mercurial state, which has seen 19 chief ministers in 20 years.
The Political Scenario: