Threat of collapsing government hovering over Goa

Congress government supported by NCP reduced to minority Wednesday evening after withdrawing support by three of its NCP MLAs, two of them ministers and other two independent MLAs.

With this the government strength on the floor has been reduced to 16 in a 40-member coalition party. The opposition BJP has sought the dismissal of Goa government.

As per the sources two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ministers- Francisco Xavier alias Micky Pacheco and Jose Philip D’ Souza will resign from the Digambar Kamat government on Thursday.

These ministers are fully supported from back by NCP MLA Nilkanth Harlankar and two independent MLAs comprising minister Vishwajit Rane son of Speaker Pratap Singh Rane, who is likely to resign too on Thursday.

All the three NCP MLAs have decided to form a separate legislature wing so as to avoid disqualification from the House.

The leader of NCP legislature wing, Jose Philip D’ Souza announced at midnight that all the three MLAs had withdrawn support from the government.

Sources say, the Independent minister Vishwajeet Rane had also given indication for withdrawing support from the government. However Ran Bhawan sources did not confirm having received any letter in this regard.

Meanwhile High Commands of both Congress and NCP have sent their representatives to Goa to sort out the ongoing problem there.

With the support of like-minded people these MLAs are looking forward to work on the possibility of forming a government.

Some Congress leaders had accused Vishwahit Rane of obstructing the introduction of the finance bill on Wednesday, sources are guessing could be the reason of his unhappiness with the government and culminating his decision of retreating support.

By Wednesday afternoon rumours for withdrawing support by NCP MLAs were prevalent in Goa legislative assembly.

As per the sources government had to pass the Money Bill, but absence of two congresses MLA put the government on back foot as they were expecting abstaining or voting against by some of MLAs against the Bill. The absence of two congress MLAs forced the chief minister Digambar Kamat seeking adjournment of the House owing to serious accident occurred in Pernem.

Endorsed with CM’s request Speaker Rane adjourned the House till 2:30 pm on Thursday.

Consequently Congratulatory Motion moved by MLA Victoria Fernandes on 41st Anniversary of Opinion Poll Day was left unfinished on Wednesday.

Within six months this is the second attempt to dethrone the government. Earlier the three MLAs Babush, Churchill, and Parrikar had masterminded a revolt in July last year but could not prove their majority in the House.