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Congress watchful as Goa CM prepares for floor test

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

Goa Governor J F R Jacob rejected Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro's recommendation to dissolve the house and to pave the way for the imposition of President's rule.

He has now asked Faleiro to prove his majority in the house by Monday.

The 68-day-old Congress government with a majority of only one member in the 40-member house, became a minority yesterday government when two of his ministers resigned and announced their support for former chief minister Wilfred de Souza.

While Dr de Souza immediately staked his claim to form the government, Faleiro submitted a letter to the governor recommending the assembly's dissolution. He also admitted yesterday of having presumed that he had lost his majority.

The 19-member-strong Congress is silent on taking action against Social Welfare Minister Deu Mandrekar, who had attracted disqualification by quitting the party all by himself.

The Congressmen are taking seriously the claim of Dr de Souza, the former chief minister, and are wondering if there are others in their camp ready to shift sides. But it is doubtful whether six more Congress MLAs will follow Mandrekar to make that group one-third of the party's strength.

The former chief minister claimed he would get at least two more Congress MLAs to move over to his side by the time Faleiro moves the confidence vote in the house. These MLAs have reportedly been assured ministerial berths for six months even if the speaker disqualifies them.

On the other hand, the eight-member Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and the four-member Bharatiya Janata Party are yet to decide whether to back this government. The general feeling in the party is to support Dr de Souza from outside, as general assembly elections are hardly 10 months away.

If these two major constituents refuse to be part of his government, then Dr de Souza will be left with just six Goa Rajiv Congress members, rebel Congress legislator Mandrekar and two independents to form a cabinet.

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