Congress says BJP murdering democracy in Goa

Winning 17 seats, the Congress had yesterday emerged as the single largest party in the Goa Assembly polls, which threw up a hung verdict.

New Delhi, March 12: The Congress on Sunday accused the BJP of murdering democracy in Goa and dubbed Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar as villain after the saffron party stole march on it.

Winning 17 seats, the Congress had yesterday emerged as the single largest party in the Goa Assembly polls, which threw up a hung verdict. However, the BJP, which was relegated to the second position with 13 seats, has staked claim to form government in the state with support of other parties.

"We were in a position to form government in Goa after people favoured us and were in the process of doing so. But what the BJP did there is unthinkable and murder of democracy. Parrikar is the villain behind what has transpired," Congress secretary Shantaram Naik told PTI.

Naik said the developments took place while the Congress MLAs were busy electing their legislature leader. "Even (Union Minister) Shripad Naik had yesterday said they (BJP) will not form government (in Goa) due to inadequate numbers. But what has happened is unthinkable in democracy, we condemn it," he said.

Parrikar today staked claim to form the next government in the state with the support from three members, each of Goa Forward Party, Maharashtrawadi Gomkantak Party, two Independents and lone NCP MLA, taking the tally of the coalition to 22. With this, the BJP has cobbled up the requisite number needed to reach the magic figure in the 40-member House.

PTI