Goa Democratic Alliance writes letter to Governor

Panaji, July 27: Even as the spectre of ''instability'' haunts 49-day old Congress-led Digambar Kamat coalition government till Monday, with adjournment of the state legislative assembly, the nascent Goa Democratic Alliance (GDA) dashed a letter to Governor S C Jamir late night yesterday seeking direction to the Speaker to convene the House today for show of strength.

''Direct the Chief Minister to prove his majority on the floor of the House and dismiss him if he fails, and call the GDA and its leader Manohar Parrikar to form government without any loss of time,'' the late night ''most urgent'' letter to the Governor said.

The copy of the letter was sent to the President of India, claiming that the adjournment of the House yesterday had resulted in a ''constitutional crisis'' with the scheduled budget demands not transacted.

The letters were sent separately by the BJP leader Manohar Parrikar and the GDA chairman Anil Salgaoncar.

The breather given to the government, they feared, may facilitate ''horse-trading'' by the ruling coalition, even as the Chief Minister and his people have started sending ''offers coupled with threats'' to GDA members by offering prime positions or otherwise face the threat of ''suspended animation/President's Rule''.

''We, therefore, request your excellency, having regard to the constitutional and democratic principles to act in the matter to safeguard the constitutional provisions by reconvening the House tomorrow,'' they said.

The Chief Minister failed to transact the government business as directed by the Speaker as per ''planned stretagem in order to avoid facing an imminent defeat on the floor of the House,'' they said.

''Amidst pandemonium, created deliberately by the ruling members, the Speaker apparently in order to save the day for the minority government, arbitrarily adjourned the House till Monday, completely ignoring the day's agenda, including financial demands filed by the Business Advisory Committee,'' they said.

Mr Kamat, earlier in the day, claimed that his government was in tact and asked the GDA to prove its strength on the floor of the House without indulging in games of destabilisation.

The trouble was triggered by the lone Congress woman legislator Victoria Fernandes, who resigned from the membership of the House and the party, and withdrawal of support by two-member MGP and one Independent (Anil Salgaoncar) to the coalition.

The 2-member Save Goa Front and one-member UGDP also withdrew the support they had extended from outside on issue to issue basis, plunging the government into crisis.

The GDA claims support of 20 legislators, while the Congress had 18 including its 3 NCP partners and one independent, Health Minister Viswajit Rane, son of Speaker Pratapsinh Rane. The Speaker could vote in case of a tie in the trial of strength.

The Congress maintains that Victoria Fernandes continues to be member of the House till the Speaker decides otherwise on her resignation letter, but she came out to back the GDA in the open.

UNI