Mega turmoil in Goa Congress as Rane, Savio Rodrigues resign

“Vishwajeet Rane was with us…” The chief minister denied that the BJP was negatively perceived among the people and refused to believe that members of the general public have expressed resentment over how events have panned out on Goa’s political chessboard.

When we reached, Prasad Gaonkar said, “I have given my letter of support to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government”. Parsekar took over as chief minister after Parrikar shifted to Delhi as defence minister, but he simply did not have the acumen of his predecessor.

The Congress, which accused the BJP of horse-trading and other unfair means to retain power, could mobilise only 16 votes against the government.

Viswajit said the Congress had “betrayed the trust of Goa by not forming the government despite people giving them the clear mandate”.

The BJP leader had sworn in as Chief Minister on Tuesday. As a result, veteran Congressman Digvijaya Singh – the party’s nominee to firefight the challenge – was fettered in taking on-the-spot decisions. “Had our alliance with Goa Forward gone through we would have been 22”, he said in another tweet.

A triumphant Parrikar told reporters at a press conference later that the BJP was always confident of winning the trust vote.

Congress senior spokesperson C P Joshi also said the BJP playing politics of this kind is risky for the country and today when the government was formed there was a day for introspection in democracy. We saw everyone (legislators) voluntarily came and voted. “No MLA was hidden in a hotel or anything”, Parrikar said.

He said that while the Congress is being blamed for deciding late on its legislative party leader in Goa, the BJP is yet to decide its leader in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Parrikar was administered the oath of office by Governor Mridula Sinha.

“It is up to the chief minister, it’s not my prerogative”, he said. Ministers from MGP and GFP are likely to get important portfolios.

In the newly elected Goa Assembly, BJP has strength of 13 MLAs and Congress has 17 members.

Denying that he insisted on being the state Chief Minister, Faleiro said he didn’t come to Goa with an agenda. When she didn’t invite us, we went to the apex court.