Goa: BJP tries to leash flock, Cong plays majority card in power tussle

New Delhi: The death of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has thrown state politics into turmoil, with BJP allies pressuring the ruling party to make one of them state’s head.

Congress too has moved in swiftly. Its MLAs met Governor Mridula Sinha even while Parrikar lay in state. Their logic is that they are the single-largest party with 14 MLAs in the 40-seat House.

BJP’s Nitin Gadkari also held a quick meeting with party MLAs and allies early in the day. It is learnt the meeting was inconclusive.

The ruling coalition stands like this at the moment– BJP 12, Goa Forward 3, MGP 3 and 3 Independents.

The allies had made it clear after the elections in 2017 that the BJP would get their support of Parrikar became the chief minister. Parrikar, who was then the Union Defence Minister, was immediately sent back to Goa before the polls.

In the letter to the Governor on Monday, Congress Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar said that the BJP was likely to lose its allies after Parrikar’s death. They should be given the opportunity to prove their strength as they were the single largest party.

The scenario is slightly changed today from 2017. BJP had won 13 but now has 12 with the death of Francis D'Souza. The combined total with allies is less than the majority figure of 19.

Congress had won 17 but has 14 today after the resignations of Dayanand Sopte and Subhash Shirodkar, and 1 seat being reserved for the SC. NCP has 1.

The simple majority, therefore, in the 36-member House is 19.