Karnataka effect: 'Single-largest' parties Congress, RJD want Goa, Bihar

Panaji: Seeking to implement the Karnataka example in Goa, the Congress on Thursday decided to stake claim to form government in the state where it had emerged as the single-largest party in the Assembly polls held in 2017. 

Goa Congress Legislature Party chief Chandrakant Kavlekar said the party would stake claim on Friday by submitting to Governor Mridula Sinha a formal letter containing signatures of all 16 party MLAs. 

In the Goa Assembly elections held in March 2017, the Congress had bagged 17 seats in the 40-member House, falling short of the majority figure by four seats. The BJP, which got 14 seats, formed the government in alliance with Goa Forward Party and MGP, both of which had secured three seats each. Three Independents also went with the BJP.

Kavlekar said the Goa Governor should follow the precedent set by her Karnataka counterpart and invite the single-largest party to form the government "correcting her mistake of March 12, 2017".

He was referring to the decision of Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala to invite the single-largest party BJP to form the government after the Karnataka Assembly election results declared on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Lalu Prasad Yadav's son Tejashwi said, "We would hold a 1-day dharna tomorrow (Friday) against the murder of democracy in Karnataka. We also request the Bihar Governor to dissolve the state government and like in Karnataka invite the single-largest party to form government, which in Bihar is the RJD." 

The BJP, which emerged as the single-largest party with 104 seats in the 222-member Karnataka Assembly, was invited by the Governor despite the JD(S)-Congress combine staking claim by citing the support of 117 MLAs. The majority mark is 112 seats. 

Kavlekar further said, "We have 16 legislators with us and with that strength we are the single largest party in the (Goa) Assembly. The governor should invite us to form the government in Goa as per the precedent set by her Karnataka counterpart."

When pointed out that the Congress needs support of at least 21 legislators to stake claim, he said once the Governor swears in the Congress chief minister, he would be able to prove his majority on the floor of the House. 

"The numbers will have to be proven on the floor of the House and we have that with us," he said. However, he did not specify how the party would muster a majority. 

Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar said the governors can not have two different sets of rules. "While in Karnataka the Governor has invited the single-largest party, in Goa too, the same precedent should be followed," he said. 

The Congress is giving an "opportunity to the Goa Governor to rectify the mistake which she did last year", Chodankar said. 

The BJP-led government in Goa is headed by Manohar Parrikar, who is currently undergoing treatment in the US for pancreatic ailment. Kavlekar said in the absence of the chief minister, there was no proper government in the state. "The Congress would be able to provide a stable government in Goa," the CLP leader added.