Defections in Goa, heat in Delhi

The Congress in Goa suffered a fresh blow on Friday when another of its MLAs, Savio Rodrigues, resigned from the party and blamed the top brass for losing the opportunity to form government in the state.

Rodrigues’ resignation comes a day after Congress MLA Vishwajit Rane resigned from the party and the state Assembly, saying he was fed up with the way the party was functioning in the state.

Meanwhile, Rane launched a fresh attack on Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh on Friday, saying he was not sure whether the Congress in-charge for the state really wanted to form government in Goa. Rane had defied the party whip during the crucial floor test in the Goa Assembly on Thursday.

Meanwhile, facing internal crisis in Goa, Congress increased the heat against Goa Governor Mridula Sinha both inside and outside Parliament on Friday.

Pooling all its resources, the Congress has threatened to take the matter to the President or to the court “on account of breach of propriety and violation of constitutional norms” by Sinha.

“Through a petition, we will urge the President to dismiss the Goa Governor using his powers under Article 156 (1) for not delivering her duties in accordance with the Constitution.

Senior party leaders are holding a meeting on Saturday morning to look at all the possible options,” said Pratap Singh Bajwa, a senior Congress leader from Punjab.

Confronting the ire of Goa legislators for ‘wasting the mandate’ in the state,   Digvijay Singh hit back at his detractors through a series of tweets on Friday alleging “sabotage” by party leaders. Singh said he had proposed alliances with two regional parties -- one headed by Babush Monserratte and the other, with Goa Forward.

“Our alliance with Babush went through and we won 3 out of 5 seats but our alliance with Goa Forward was sabotaged by our own leaders. Sad!” tweeted Singh.

“Had our alliance with Goa Forward gone through, we would have been 22,” he said. “Still Digvijaya guilty? I leave it to you to judge,” Singh said.

To keep up the heat, the Congress is also planning to bring a substantive motion to discuss the role of Goa Governor in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

Trying to undo the damage, Singh demanded suspension of all other work to debate the issue under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha.

Questioning Sinha’s conduct as a governor on the basis of an interview in which he reportedly revealed speaking to finance minister, Arun Jaitley before arriving at the decision to call BJP to form the government, Congress members demanded a discussion in the Rajya Sabha.

The demand, however, was rejected by Deputy Chairman P J Kurien who said Governor’s role on violating constitutional provisions can be discussed only under a substantive motion.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad insisted on holding the discussion by bringing in the role of leader of the house Arun Jaitley.

“How can the Governor seek permission of a Cabinet Minister to form a government,” asked Azad adding that the conduct of Governor was discussed when the Arunachal Pradesh issue was debated in the House.

Singh requested to take the sense of Members present and convert his notice under rule 267 into a substantive motion.

Sitaram Yechury of the CPM came to the help of Congress by stating that Cabinet Minister is answerable to the House and the matter can be discussed.

But Kurien kept digging his heels and said that if any Minister has violated any provision of the Constitution, there can be a motion for that as well.
 
The BJP challenged the demand leading to a heated exchange and an early adjournment of the house. Congress members stormed into the well raising slogans against murder of democracy, forcing Kurien to adjourn the House till noon.
 
In Lok Sabha too, the leader of the opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, raised the matter during a discussion on the demand for grants for union home ministry amid uproar by the members of treasury benches.  
 
Going by the indications parliament looks all set to witness a story week.
 
Meanwhile, a day after winning the trust vote in Goa Assembly, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday asserted that his government would complete its tenure.

“Questions are being asked how the government will survive for next five years. I can assure you that this government will complete its tenure. Importance will be given to a common agenda that would be worked out between the alliance partners,” he told reporters.