New Delhi: Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar won the floor test on Thursday proving his government’s majority in the 40-member legislative assembly. Parrikar, who resigned as defence minister from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet, was sworn in along with nine ministers on Tuesday, and had earlier exuded confidence of winning the trust vote.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 13 seats in the 40-member Goa legislative assembly, but Parrikar has managed to create a coalition, which includes three MLAs each from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and three Independents, which takes the total tally of the BJP-led coaliton to 22.
The Congress emerged as the largest party with 17 MLAs, but the party failed to get support of non-BJP parties. The party later also alleged BJP of using “money power” to cobble a coalition and petitioned the Supreme Court to stall the swearing-in of Parrikar. The apex court rejected the Congress petition, but asked governor Mridula Sinha to hold a special session to let the BJP-led coalition take a floor test.
Here are the latest updates and highlights from Goa:
■ 1.30pm: Congress leader Digvijay Singh tweets, once again accuses the BJP of using money power to form the government and making a mockery of the people’s verdict.
Finally Money Power proves to be stronger than People's Power.
— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) March 16, 2017
■ 12.50pm: Goa CM Manohar Parrikar is addressing a press conference after winning the trust vote. Major points from his press briefing are:
— A transparent process was adopted to prove the majority of our government. The Speaker made us stand and the count was clear.
— We have won the floor test, debunking Congress’ Digvijaya Singh’s claim that they have the numbers.
— Everyone voluntarily voted for us. Nobody was confined or secluded in a hotel. (TV reports)
■ 12.40pm: NCP’s Churchil Alemao votes in favour of the BJP government, CNN-News18 reported.
■ 12.30pm: Manohar Parrikar government wins trust vote by 22-16 in the 40-member House. (PTI)
■ 12pm: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had earlier accused the BJP of “stealing mandate”.
It is not about how soon they went, but with how much money the BJP went to steal the mandate of Goa & Manipur pic.twitter.com/yWMVpOQr6J
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) March 14, 2017
■ 11.50am: Goa Forward Party’s Vijai Sardesai says, “The Congress has over-invested in Luizinho Faleiro. The defeat of Congress in Goa is because of him. The Congress can never take any decision as the infighting between them is immense. It is filled with grandfathers who are ex-chief ministers.” (CNN-News18)
■ 11.40am: Credited with strengthening the BJP in Goa, Parrikar has been the chief minister twice before.
Also read | The Congress party’s long twilight
■ 11.20am: The trust vote in Goa legislative assembly is reportedly scheduled at 11.30am after newly elected MLAs are sworn in.
■ 11am: A section of Congress MLAs in Goa has sought appointment with party vice-president Rahul Gandhi to apprise him about the “mismanagement” by senior leaders which they blame for the botched bid to capture power. The anguish of the party MLAs’ seems to be directed at AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh who has been handling the party affairs in Goa ahead and after elections. (PTI)
■ 10.45am: Parrikar reaches state assembly ahead of the floor test at the special session. PTI had earlier reported that Parrikar will present Goa’s budget on 24 March.
