Manohar Parrikar wins trust vote in Goa assembly

The Manohar Parrikar government today proved its majority on the floor of the Goa Assembly by winning the trust vote with the support of 22 legislators in the 40-member House. The opposition Congress could muster only 16 votes against the government with one of its legislators Vishwajit Rane absenting himself from the crucial floor test.

Parrikar, who resigned as Defence Minister earlier this week, was sworn-in as the Chief Minister along with nine other MLAs by Governor Mridula Sinha on March 14. The 61-year-old BJP leader proved his majority with 12 legislators from the BJP, three from the Goa Forward Party (GFP), three from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), three Independents and one from the NCP voting in favour of the trust motion. The test was passed through a clear division ordered by Pro-tem Speaker, BJP MLA Siddharth Kuncolienkar.

Rane was later quoted by a journalist from Goan newspaper O Heraldo saying he wished to resign from both his MLA seat and the Congress party.

Senior Congress leader Pratapsinh Rane sought to raise a point of order when Parrikar moved a motion seeking vote of confidence. The Speaker, however, did not allow Rane to raise the point of order and continued the voting process.

The Congress, despite emerging as the single largest party in the elections, could not form the government while the BJP made deft moves by securing support from GFP, MGP and Independents.

Congress leaders including Vice President Rahul Gandhi and AICC General Secretary in charge of Goa Digvijay Singh, reacted sharply.

An aggrieved Congress moved the Supreme Court on March 13 to stall the swearing-in of Parrikar with the claim that it should have been invited to form the government since it was the single largest party. But the apex court refused to stop the swearing-in and ordered that the floor test be held today.

The Goa assembly session was then adjourned till March 22, when it will meet again to elect the Speaker. This would be followed by the Governor's address on March 23 and presentation of the state budget on March 24.

With inputs by NH Web Desk.