Goa Democratic Alliance, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led political formation, on Friday staked claim to form government, a day after the Congress-led ministry was reduced to a minority, and moved its legislators out of the state to guard against poaching by rival camp for a trial of strength.
A delegation of GDA met Governor S C Jamir and urged him to invite former chief minister Manohar Parrikar of the BJP to form government claiming the support of majority 20 legislators in the 40-member assembly with an effective strength of 39.
On a day of hectic parleys in the rival camps, Chief Minister Digamber Kamat too met the Governor and claimed he enjoys majority support and would be able to pass financial bill in the assembly on Monday without much problem.
The Kamat-led government has run into trouble after its ally MGP with two MLAs and an independent legislator withdrew their support.
The BJP-led political formation, comprising MGP, Save Goa Front, United Goans Democratic Party and independent legislator Anil Salgaoncar, enjoys majority support.
While GDA has 20 legislators, the Congress-led alliance has 19 on its side.
"We have elected Manohar Parrikar, leader of opposition as our leader and therefore request you to call upon Parrikar who enjoys the majority support to form the government," a petition addressed to Jamir and signed by all 20 legislators, said.
"We support the leader of opposition to form the government so that Goa gets able administrator and stable governance," the petition said.