the goan I network
MARGAO
Where are the 21 numbers? Will the Congress reach the magic figure when the alliance cold-shouldered its claim to form an alternate government?
These questions did the rounds in political circles when Leader of the Opposition Babu Kavlekar and GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar marched to the residence of Governor Mridula Sinha to dismiss the BJP-led coalition government and invite the Congress to form an alternate government being the largest political party.
Officially, Congress leaders may put a brave face to claim the party can garner the required numbers to cross the half way mark and prove its majority on the floor of the House, notwithstanding that the Congress party’s move attracted a snub from the alliance partners.
In private, Congress leader are brimming with confidence that the party’s move to petition the governor has served the purpose “ to remind the people of Goa of the unholy alliance amongst the coalition partners and how the regional player betrayed the trust of the voters by aligning with the very BJP whom they had fought in the 2017 Assembly election.
Sources in the Congress said the party leaders appear a satisfied lot that the Karnataka political drama has ended in favour of the Congress and JD(S), but has helped to boost the confidence of the rank and file of the party in Goa and take the battle in the enemy camp. “The Congress has achieved its objective in Karnataka as well as in Goa. In Karnataka, the Governor has invited the Cong-JD(S) to form the government. Governor Mridula Sinha may not invite the Congress to form the government in Goa, but we have achieved our objective. The episode gave the Congress an opportunity to expose the BJP and the regional players, including the Goa Forward
