After reducing Congress-led Government in Goa to a minority, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today named a new political group Goa Democratic Alliance (GDA) headed by Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar.
Panaji, July 26 : After reducing Congress-led Government in Goa to a minority, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today named a new political group Goa Democratic Alliance (GDA) headed by Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar.
Two legislators of Maharashtra Gomantak Party (MGP) and an independent legislator Anil Salgaoncar have withdrawn support to the Digamber Kamat-led Government and joined BJP coalition.
The BJP-led coalition has said it will defeat the State Government, headed by the Congress, in a trial of strength in the Assembly.
BJP wants Goa Governor S C Jamir, who is presently in Delhi, to install the new government after they defeat ruling coalition on the Floor of the House.
"We want him (the Governor) to install the new government once the existing government is defeated during the ongoing State Assembly session," BJP leader Parrikar said.
The GDA was formed earlier today to ensure close coordination between its partners. The coalition comprises of two legislators of the Maharashtra Gomantak Party (MGP), two of Save Goa Front (SGF), one of United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) and independent legislator Anil Salgaoncar, besides 14 BJP legislators. With this the BJP-led opposition has 20 legislators.
The GDA unanimously elected Parrikar as its leader. Parrikar will be the Chief Minister if the BJP-led formation proves majority on the Floor of the House.
Meanwhile, according to some reports the Goa Assembly was adjourned till Monday amidst noisy protests by members of the ruling Congress-led coalition.
Less than two months old Congress-led Government was reduced to 18 members in the 40-member Assembly after of one of its allies, the Maharashtra Gomantak Party (MGP) having a strength of two members and an independent legislator Anil Salgaoncar withdrew support and a woman Congress legislator Victoria Fernandes resigned from the State Assembly.
The MGP, which had supported the Congress to form the Government, said it was unhappy with functioning of the government.
Victoria Fernandes submitted her resignation charging her own party members of humiliating her.
Fernandes was disappointed after being denied a Cabinet rank. She claims that Congress President Sonia Gandhi had assured her of one.
She abstained from the House during the presentation of the Finance Bill on Tuesday, despite a Whip being issued by the party on the Floor of the House. The party thereafter threatened Fernandes with disqualification for defying the Whip.
Congress had formed the government with 16 legislators with support from three of NCP, two of MGP, and two independents legislators after it emerged the largest party in June 2 Goa Assembly elections.
ANI