Goa Governor S C Jamir has decided to end the political uncertainty in the coastal state by telling Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to prove his majority on the floor of the House.
However, the official communiqué from Raj Bhavan in this regard was awaited till Sunday evening.
| |||||||||||
Later Parrikar also confirmed Jamir's stance claiming that he had been told to prove his majority on the floor of the House on Wednesday.
Though four BJP legislators resigned on Saturday, speaker Vishwas Satarkar did not accept the resignation of transport minister Pandurang Madkaikar, claiming that he seems to have resigned under coercion.
Parrikar alleged that Madkaikar was being kept under captivity in the Congress camp.
The governor, however, stated that the strength of the House had been reduced to 36 with four legislators, including Madkaikar, quitting the assembly.
There was also confusion about the support of Tourism Minister Mathany Saldhana, who belongs to the United Goans Democratic Party, Parrikar's alliance partner.
Though the strength of the ruling BJP has been reduced to 17, Parrikar could increase it to 18 by getting Saldhana on his side once he returns from Spain.
Parrikar has accused the Congress of trying to bring pressure on the governor to help instal its government in the state by using its clout at the Centre.
"I have no faith in the central government. The Home Ministry has been thinking for a long time now that Goa is a Union Territory and they (Centre) can dictate what happens here," he said on Sunday.
"But it is not so. I will see this will not happen. I am comfortable as the governor will abide by the law," Parrikar said.