Goa Govt reduced to minority
11 Cong MLAs split party

PANAJI, Nov 19 (UNI, PTI) — The five-month old Congress government in Goa was tonight reduced to minority, with 24 of the 40 members in the Assembly deciding to extend support to Mr Francisco Sardinha, who revolted against "divide and rule policy" of Chief Minister Luizino Faleiro.

Mr Sardinha told reporters at Angelo’s Resort at Bangolda, near here, that he met the Governor, Lieut-Gen JFR Jacob, and staked his claim to form the government with the support of 24 members, including 11 of INC (Sardinha Group), BJP (10), MGP (two), Nationalist Congress Party (one) and Independent (one).

Mr Sardinha said the Governor was convinced that Mr Faleiro had lost his majority. He said, now the ball was in the court of the Governor and he had to decide the future course of action, before leaving for Punjab to assume the Governor’s post.

Mr Sardinha presented 24 MLAs before the Governor.

The Governor tonight summoned Mr Faleiro to take stock of the situation.

The Governor is understood to have asked the Chief Minister to prove his majority in the House. But the details of the date and time were not available till late night.

According to Raj Bhavan sources, state Governor Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd) as soon as he returned from Delhi was called on by four dissident ministers — Mr Sardinha, Mr Somnath Zuarkar, Mr Subhash Shirodkar and Mr Dayanand Narvekar. Leader of the BJP in the Assembly Manohar Parrikar and Nationalist Congress Party leader Wilfred D’Souza were also among those who called upon the Governor.

Earlier, state Deputy Speaker Alexio Sequiera had also resigned from his post without stating any reasons.

The revolt against Mr Faleiro is being backed by the 10-member BJP group which is exploring the possibility of a coalition government in Goa with Congress party dissidents, who are angry with the style of Mr Faleiro’s working.

The Congress, meanwhile has charged the BJP with playing a destabilising game.

According to a report from New Delhi, the BJP tonight said it would support efforts for the formation of an alternative government in Goa as "the people of the tiny state cannot afford another election".