Constitutional crisis in Goa, claims AAP

Panaji, June 3: Claiming that Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is chairing meetings of the Goa state Cabinet, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday said there was a "constitutional crisis" in the state which warrants intervention of Governor Mridula Sinha.

"There is a constitutional crisis in Goa as there are two chief ministers. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is chairing the cabinet meetings. The Paryatan Bhavan (Goa camp office of Parrikar) has turned into defacto Chief Minister's office," AAP National spokesman Ashutosh told reporters here.

He said as per the Indian constitution, one state cannot have two chief ministers.

"This is a clear cut case of constitutional crisis. We will be meeting Goa Governor (Mridula Sinha) tomorrow or day after to petition her against this two-chief minister situation," the AAP spokesman said.

AAP which has already began preparing to contest all the 40 seats during upcoming Goa State Legislative Assembly election has taken strong objection to Parrikar's interference in the state's key decisions.

"We would like to ask BJP who is the chief minister of Goa? Is it Manohar Parrikar or Laxmikant Parsekar?," he said. BJP should explain in what capacity does Parrikar hold cabinet meetings which are accessible only to ministers or secretaries who are invited to participate in it, Ashutosh said.

The AAP leader said Parrikar should explain why senior government officials come to meet him (Parrikar) with confidential files and take oral instructions given by him.

He recalled that during 2004, Congress President Sonia Gandhi was reportedly calling senior officers with confidential files and reading them, which was strongly opposed.

"Is Prime Minister Narendra Modi aware that his Defence Minister is working as a second chief minister for Goa?" he questioned.

PTI