Congress stakes claim to form government in Goa, in Manohar Parrikar’s absence

At a time when ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is admitted to AIIMS in Delhi, Congress Party staked its claim to form a government in Goa. Fourteen of 16 Congress legislators have already submitted a letter to Raj Bhavan, but there has not been a meeting between governor and them, reported ANI.

As Congress is the single largest party in Goa, having 16 MLAs followed by BJP 14 MLAs in the state. “We’re single largest party, should’ve been given the chance earlier. See how govt is functioning today. We have numbers so we’re staking claim. Governor will be here tomorrow. We’ll request him for it,”  Chandrakant Kavlekar, Congress Legislature Party Chief told news agency.

Goa Congress, along with its 14 MLAs, have staked claim to form govt in the state. They have submitted a letter before the Raj Bhavan but there has not been a meeting between the Governor and them. Congress party has 16 MLAs in the state. pic.twitter.com/P1bqdwT5oG

— ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2018

Furthermore he added, “Submitted 2 memorandums and requested that situation to undergo election within 18 months shouldn’t arise. People elected us for 5 years. If present govt is not capable to function, we should be given the chance, we’ll do it.”

Submitted 2 memorandums&requested that situation to undergo election within 18 months shouldn’t arise. People elected us for 5 yrs. If present govt is not capable to function, we should be given the chance, we’ll do it: Chandrakant Kavlekar,Congress Legislature Party Chief #Goa pic.twitter.com/jQgVITudx9

— ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2018

The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee on Sunday appealed to Goa Governor Mridula Sinha to give the Congress party an opportunity to form a stable government in the state.

“The Congress has never hesitated to play the role of a constructive and effective opposition, but we will not hesitate to come forward and take responsibility to form a government. We have already cautioned Honourable Governor Her Excellency Dr Mridula Sinha about a possible ploy by the BJP to fraudulently impose President`s Rule in Goa, through the back door,” the Congress had said in a statement on Sunday.

The development comes after a BJP central team earlier today met ex-Goa party lawmakers as little headway was made over an alternative leadership in the absence of Parrikar. A series of meetings, chaired by BJP’s National General Secretary (Organisation) Ram Lal and his associates B.L. Santosh and Vijay Puranik, was convened at a hotel. After wrapping up his meeting Lal said, the government is stable and no demand has been made for a change in leadership.

In the assembly elections held in February last year, Congress had bagged 17 seats in the 40-member House, falling short of the majority figure by four seats.

While all the BJP MLAs and coalition partner Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party have also rooted for Parrikar continuing as Chief Minister, another alliance partner Goa Forward and three Independent MLAs demanded a “permanent solution” to the ongoing leadership crisis.

Also read: Goa CM Manohar Parrikar flies to Delhi today for treatment, BJP busy finding alternative