Two letters submitted to Gov, cautions against Central rule
the goan I network
PANAJI
The Opposition Congress lent a new dimension to Goa’s realpolitik on Monday by reiterating before Governor Mridula Sinha its claim to form an alternative government amidst the ongoing turmoil in the ruling BJP-led coalition triggered by a virtual tug-of-war between the leaders of the Goa Forward Party and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party.
After a legislature party meeting attended by all the 16 Congress MLAs, Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar dashed off to the Raj Bhavan where he submitted two letters, one staking the party’s claim to form an alternate government and the other cautioning the Governor that dissolution of the Assembly without ensuring a floor-test first, would be against the law as laid down by the Supreme Court.
Both the letters have been signed by all the 16 Congress legislators and were officially submitted to the Governor’s Secretary as Ms Sinha is out of station. Kavlekar has also sought a personal audience with the Governor who is expected to return to the State on Tuesday.
Kavlekar, in the letter to the Governor said, no recommendation to dissolve the Assembly and pave the way for mid-term polls should be entertained and the Congress which is the single-largest party be invited instead to form an alternative government.
The Congress has also said that it apprehends foul play from the ruling side and feared a false letter may be submitted to the Governor claiming that the Congress supports dissolution.
Monday’s move unleashed by the Congress strategists gains significance amidst the pronounced functional and administrative logjam in the BJP-led coalition government in the wake of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s long absences and a bitter tussle between the alliance partners to fill the leadership void.
In the letter staking claim to form the Government, the Congress has also cautioned the Governor against imposing Central rule and recommending keeping the House in suspended animation.
In the 40-member House, the Congress with 16 MLAs is the single-largest party. The BJP has 14 but three of its MLAs, including Parrikar, and cabinet ministers Francis D’Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar are severely handicapped with serious ailments and ongoing treatments outside the State. False letters attributed to Congress leaders claiming desire to accept recommendation for dissolution may be placed before the governor, the letter said and asserted that this is not true.
The Congress’ Monday move, sources in the party said, was also prompted by the apparent fissures in the coalition partners which got exposed on Sunday with the emergence of a new grouping of six MLAs - the three GFP MLAs and the three independents. This group of six met the BJP central observers as a bloc on Sunday and opposed the proposal to annoint PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar to hold charge of the CMO as a temporary arrangement.
The BJP is supported by three MLAs apiece of the GFP and MGP, and three Independents. The Lone NCP MLA, Churchill Alemao, claims to be ‘neutral’ but has in the past oscillated between the treasury and ruling benches in the House.
Kavlekar, meanwhile, was not available for comments but senior leader Luizinho Faleiro, when contacted by The Goan said the “Constitutional Vacuum” in the State prompted the party to stake claim afresh.
“The Chief Minister is absent. One Cabinet Minister is in the US undergoing treatment. Another Minister is in Mumbai undergoing treatment. There is no government. Even the Governor is absent,” Faleiro said.
Faleiro also replied with an assertive “yes” when asked whether the party’s strategists were engaged in government formation discussions with probable partners. He, however, declined to get into details of the discussions nor did he identify with which party or legislators the Congress was holding the discussions.
