http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=67224
BJP, Congress slug it out in Goa (LEAD): [India News]: Panaji, Jan 31 : Furious political activity continued to raise heat Monday in Goa, where the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was gearing up for a test of strength after the exit of four legislators left it a minority. The BJP-led Goa government has recommended an assembly session Thursday for a test of strength, after the resignation of four party legislators and the pulling out of two others from regional parties threw the state into a crisis. At Governor S.C. Jamir's invitation to prove its majority, the BJP expressed confidence about retaining power even as it accused the opposition Congress of trying to destabilise the government. "We are confident the government will succeed in proving its strength in the floor test," BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu said in New Delhi. "The Congress is doing its best to destabilise the elected government in Goa but I want to caution the Congress not to go for any misadventure." With both Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and the Congress party claiming majority support in the 40-seat assembly, the numbers game took a new turn with the return of Tourism Minister Mathany Saldhana from Spain. Saldhana, a United Goan Democratic Party (UGDP) member who, the Congress claimed, had come out against the government, declared his "unconditional support" to the beleaguered Parrikar. He told reporters he would continue to support the BJP government. "I am not a weather-cock to keep changing sides. Politics is not a power game for me." Saldhana's statement came after the UGDP sent a letter to the governor withdrawing its support to the Parrikar government. Saldhana, the party's lone legislator, claimed he was not consulted about the letter. With the resignation of legislators Micky Pacheco, Pandurang Madkaikar, Babush Monserettee and Isidore Fernandez, the ruling BJP's strength in the assembly has fallen to 17, four less than a majority. According to Congress leaders, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party leader and Public Works Minister Sudin Dhawalikar and independent member and Water Resources Minister Philip Neri Rodrigues have also withdrawn their support to the government but have not sent any communication to the governor. Legislators of the Congress, which has 16 members in the assembly, met the governor Monday to formally stake their claim to form a new government. Confused by claims and counter-claims, Jamir spoke to Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who is now in Mizoram. He has also held discussions with constitutional experts regarding the political situation in the coastal state. The chief minister has claimed majority support and asserted he was ready to prove this on the floor of the house. That is what the governor has asked him to do Thursday. -- Cheers, Gabe. Wimbledon - London England.
