SGF extends support to Digambar govt

Panaji, Aug 14: The 69-day old Congress-led coalition government headed by Mr Digambar Kamat in Goa received a shot in the arm when the 2-member Save Goa Front (SGF) decided to extend support to it after severing ties with the Anti-Congress coalition of BJP-led Goa Democratic Alliance (GDA).

SGF supremo Churchil Alemao is likely to be sworn in as a cabinet minister this evening. He, along with another legislator Reginaldo Alexio Loureco submitted a memorandum to a representative of Governor SC Jamir at Raj Bhavan late last night extending support to the government.

Mr Alemao was reportedly prevailed over by Union Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi and other members of the congress high command yesterday when the former was in Delhi in connection with the case in the Supreme Court against the speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, informed sources told the sources.

With this, the strength of the ruling coalition in the 40-member House rose to 22 with Congress having 15(without recognising Victoria Fernandes who resigned), NCP-3, SGF-2, UGDP-1 and Independent-1.

Trouble started when the Kamat government was reduced to a ''minority'' on July 26, following the withdrawal of support by the 2-member MGP group, including then PWD minister Ramakrishna Davlikar and resignation of lone woman Congress legislator Victoria Fernandes with the formation of the GDA.

Notably, Mr Alemao, rebelled against the Congress leadership both at the Centre and the State and later resigned as South Goa MP to head the nascent SGF.

A former chief minister himself, Mr Alemao hoped that his party would be voted to power on the strength of the regional issues such as recognition to Konkani language in Roman script and opposition to developomental projects such as international airport at Mopa in North Goa which were sentimental issues.

But the SGF got only two seats, including his colleague Reginaldo from Curtorim. With the lone UGDP MLA and yet another Congress rebel Atanasio Monserrate (Babush) embroiled in the controversial Regional Plan-2011 joining hands, the two parties extended support to the Kamat government on ''issue by issue'' basis from outside initially.

Later , they formed the anti-Congress coalition of the Goa Democratic Front with the support of BJP having 14 members in the 40-member House, the MGP-2 and Independent-1(Anil Salgaocar-chairman of the GDA) staking claim to form government on July 26 seeking dismissal of the Kamat government.

Even as the Supreme Court was examining the case against the Speaker who restrained the MGP members from voting in the crucial trial of strength on July 30 resulting in survival of the government on the floor of the House, Babush withdrew his support to the GDA yesterday and came out in the open pledging his ''unconditional support'' to the government, followed by the SGF today.

With this, the GDA strength reduced to 17-- BJP-14, MGP-2 and Independent-1 --even as the fate of the lone woman Congress legislator Victoria Fernandes hangs in balance with the Speaker still not accepting her resignation and she challenging it in the Mumbai High court.

It was also rumoured that she may withdraw her resignation to pledge support to the Kamat government even as the hearing of disqualification petition against her was postponed to August 27.

Meanwhile, the mauled members of the GDA group is expected to return to Panaji from New Delhi today. They reportedly cancelled their appointment with the President yesterday following the desertions.

UNI