Marred by frequent by-elections caused by hung assembly verdicts and hunger for power, Goa has seen imposition of President's Rule twice.
PANAJ I: Marred by frequent by-elections caused by hung assembly verdicts and hunger for power, Goa has seen imposition of President's Rule twice and 16 Chief Ministers in the last twenty years.
The erstwhile Portuguese colony, liberated in 1963, saw three Chief Ministers till 1987, when Goa attained statehood. Political instability has only intensified, since 1987 resulting in 16 Chief Minister ruling the state in the last two decades.
Congress's Pratapsingh Rane has been a five-time Chief Minister since the liberation. It was under Rane's Chief Ministership that Goa got statehood and the assembly was allowed to continue till 1989.
Except Rane, all other Chief Minister, including BJP's Manohar Parrikar, saw their tenure being cut short due to political coupes against them.
Political turmoil has forced the Centre to impose President's Rule in the state twice -- first in 1999 for four months and then in 2005 for three months.
Ever since the Digamber Kamat-led government plunged into a crisis, the possibility of President's rule is not being ruled out.
A group of nine legislators has revolted against the Congress-led coalition. The MLAs belonging to the NCP, Save Goa Front, Congress and the United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) besides an Independent are seeking a better share in the government.
Regional parties ruled Goa after the first-ever Goa state legislative assembly election on December 9, 1963. In the then 30-member House, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak party (MGP) led by Dayanand Bandodkar won a majority and formed the government.
Bandodkar, labelled as one of the best Chief Ministers of Goa, remained in his seat till 1973. Later the power shifted to his daughter Shashikala Kakodkar, who ruled the state till 1979.
In the 1980 elections, Congress swept the polls and installed Pratapsingh Rane as Chief Minister.
The 1989 elections marked a high-point in Goa's political instability and since then, none of the parties has been able to get a clear majority in the 40-member Assembly.
There have been unexpected and historical alliances in Goa. In 1999, Fransisco Sardinha, a Congress loyalist and current Goa Congress chief, had formed his own group, Goa Rajiv Congress and formed government toppling Congress Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro with BJP's support.
Sardinha ruled for less than a year before he was dethroned by his ally BJP. The elections that were imposed in the state after Sardinha's toppling saw BJP ruling the state with the help of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP).
Goa has also witnessed some rare instances in politics. In 994, Congress' Ravi Naik became one of the shortest surviving Chief Ministers -- he remained in his seat only for seven days.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}