Congress stakes claim to form govt

NT NETWORK

 

PANAJI

Claiming that the BJP-led coalition government is in minority after the death of Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza, the Congress party on Saturday once again staked claim to form government.

The party submitted a memorandum to Sinha staking claim to form government in the state.

The Opposition party on Saturday afternoon through email and fax sent a memorandum to the Governor staking claim to form government, and also sought her urgent appointment through aides-de camp to the Governor.

But till late Saturday evening there was no response from the Raj Bhavan, after which Opposition leader Chandrakant ‘Babu’ Kavlekar again sent his request for an appointment with Sinha.

A party delegation led by Kavlekar and Goa pradesh Congress committee president Girish Chodankar waited till late Saturday night at the Congress House in Panaji, but in vain as no communication was received from the Raj Bhavan.

The memorandum sent to the Governor said, “Consequent upon the sad demise of Francis D’Souza, MLA who was belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party, it is humbly submitted that the incumbent BJP-led state government under the leadership of Manohar Parrikar, which has long lost the trust of the people, has also lost the strength of the House. Also, we anticipate that numbers of the BJP may further dwindle.”

Hence such a government in minority can’t be allowed to continue even for a moment, the memorandum reckoned.

“It is therefore incumbent upon you to dismiss this state government led by the BJP and ensure that the Congress party, which is the single largest party in the august House and is presently enjoying the majority, be called to form government,” the memorandum demanded.

Kavlekar cautioned Sinha that any action in violation of the constitutional mandate to invite the single largest party to form government and any attempt made to bring the state under President’s rule will be undemocratic and illegal and will be challenged, as deemed fit.

Speaking to reporters in Panaji, Kavlekar asserted that the Congress is ready to prove majority on the floor of the House.

In the past, the Opposition party by virtue of being the single largest party in the state assembly had staked claim to form government.

Late Saturday night the Congress in a statement condemned the “deliberate delay” in giving an appointment with the Governor, alleging that the “delay” has been aimed at giving political advantage to the BJP.

“It is very unfortunate and sad that the institution of Governor is being manipulated by the BJP. We wonder whether the Raj Bhavan has been converted into a BJP political office as BJP organising secretary (Satish Dhond) is getting walk-in access to the Governor; and despite of repeated requests from the Congress for an urgent appointment we are yet to receive any communication from the Governor’s office,” reads the statement issued by chief spokesperson of the party Sunil Kawthankar.