BJP has clearly shown strengeth in Goa, says Ravi Shankar Prasad

New Delhi, Mar 14: The BJP has clear numbers to form government in Goa and it has given "credible" evidence for that, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Tuesday and asserted that the matter should end there. His remarks came on a day when the Supreme Court refused to stay the swearing-in of BJP leader Manohar Parrikar as the chief minister of Goa and ordered a floor test on March 16.

Taking a dig at the Congress, Prasad said the party should introspect why it is losing trust of the people of the country. "As far as Goa is concerned, the BJP has clearly given credible evidence before the Governor that 22 MLAs are supporting it. Apart from the BJP's own MLAs, legislators of the MGP, other regional parties and even independents are supporting it," he said. "I would like to ask the Congress one simple question - does it have any numbers beyond its 17. If so, has it given that evidence before the Governor along with the name of the parties? None," Prasad told reporters outside Parliament.

The Union minister said his party along with its leader have shown "conclusive" evidence of majority and the "matter should end there". "I know the Supreme Court in a series of cases has held that the Governor is the best person to adjudge as to who can offer stability in the totality of circumstances. The BJP clearly has the numbers," Prasad said. In the 40-member Goa Assembly, the Congress has 17 MLAs, followed by the BJP with 13 legislators, the MGP 3, the GFP 3, the NCP 1, and Independents 3.

Parrikar had on March 12 submitted evidence before the Governor showing the support of majority in the Assembly. "I would like to gently tell my friends from the Congress that... in Uttar Pradesh, a state which has given political space to Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, they have been reduced to seven. Please think and introspect why you are losing the support of the people of India," Prasad said.

PTI