The Congress-led coalition Government in Goa on Wednesday came into minority after two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Ministers resigned from the State Cabinet and along with Save Goa Front Legislators withdrew their support from the Digambar Kamat government.
Panaji, Jan 16 : The Congress-led coalition Government in Goa on Wednesday came into minority after two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Ministers resigned from the State Cabinet and along with Save Goa Front Legislators withdrew their support from the Digambar Kamat government.
A group of ministers, including Health minister Vishwajeet Rane, Tourism Minister Mickey Pacheco, and Save Goa Front legislators Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco and Atanasio Monserratte are understood to have come together to test the government on the floor of the House.
The ministers and a few ruling legislators are reportedly unhappy over functioning of State Finance Minister Dayanand Narvekar.
The revolt apparently stemmed from growing opposition to Narvekar's policies. The State Government, which has cancelled special economic zones in the state, is facing heat over the proposed Rajiv Gandhi IT habitat.
Narvekar, who is also IT minister, is supporting the park, which is opposed by Monserratte.
Senior Congress leader and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister, P R Dasmunshi is currently in Goa for a football event and is reportedly working on steps to defuse the crisis.
Sources said the BJP might support the breakaway group to form an alternative government in the state.
In the 40-member State Assembly, the ruling coalition has 23 members - Congress (16), NCP (3), Save Goa Front (2) and Independents (2). United Goans Democratic party's unattached legislator Atanasio Monserratte gives issue-based support to the government. The opposition has 16 members with BJP (14) and MGP (2).
In July too, the coalition government was reduced to minority after one of its allies and an independent withdrew support. However, in August, the Kamat government secured majority after three legislators broke away from the opposition GDA and joined it.
ANI