However, the party claimed that the BJP government was likely to collapse due to its allies withdrawing support
Despite Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s absence from the state and a creeping feeling of political instability, the opposition Congress said it would not pull down the BJP-led minority government in Goa. However, the party claimed that the BJP government was likely to collapse due to its allies withdrawing support.
“We will not topple the government but in case it collapses (due to BJP allies withdrawing support), we will stake claim to power,” Shantaram Naik, former Rajya Sabha MP and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president told DNA. He said it was for the BJP’s allies — the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Goa Forward Party (GFP) and independents — to “review their stance in view of the developments.”
The BJP has just 14 MLAs in the 40-member house and the Congress is the single largest party with 16 legislators. The BJP won the floor test due to the support of MGP, GFP (three legislators each) and three independents apart from the lone NCP representative Churchill Alemao.
“There are 10 MLAs outside the BJP who can shift their stance. This is a minority government and there is no common minimum programme between the parties. There are divergent views between the BJP and their allies,” added Naik, claiming that “anything can happen.”
Parrikar is recuperating at the Lilavati Hospital in suburban Mumbai from a pancreatic ailment.
Naik said it was also necessary for the hospital or the state government to issue “transparent bulletins (on Parrikar’s health so there is no misunderstanding).”
Meanwhile, town and country planning minister Vijay Sardesai of the GFP said they had decided to support the BJP government on the condition that Parrikar be the chief minister. Hence, the GFP will not withdraw support to the government till the time Parrikar was helming it.
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