AYES
BJP: 11
MGP: 3
GFP: 3
IND: 3
NOES
CONG: 14
NCP: 1
PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant passed his first test winning the confidence vote in the Goa legislative Assembly by the expected, comfortable margin and pledged to stick to the 'stay positive' advice of his late predecessor Manohar Parrikar besides taking forward his development agenda.
All 20 MLAs from the treasury benches, including the paralysis-stricken Pandurang Madkaikar, voted in favour of the motion while the Opposition Congress added the vote of the lone NCP MLA, Churchill Alemao in its kitty to raise its tally of 14 by one.
Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo, who took the Speaker's Chair, can record his vote only in the case of a tie and not otherwise. The BJP with 11 'voting' MLAs, 3 each of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Goa Forward Party and 3 Independents comprised the 20 'ayes' that the confidence motion got. Madkaikar was allowed to raise his hand instead of standing up to mark his vote. In the truncated House strength of 36, the crucial majority number was 19.
Sawant meanwhile made a brief statement after winning the trust vote in which he quoted the message Parrikar gave him before passing away.
"Manohar Parrikar gave a message before passing away to be positive. If we move ahead with this message, we can build take Goa to a bright future," Sawant said in an emotion-choked voice.
Sawant, 45, also pledged to make the Antodaya principle the very philosophy of his administration by which the most marginalised sections of society will be reached out to.
He said, not just the Chief Minister, but all society will have to co-operate and every Goan's help will be needed.
Parrikar passed away on Sunday and Sawant was sworn-in Chief Minister at an unearthly 2 am on Tuesday by Governor Mridula Sinha a short while after his BJP-led coalition officially staked claim. He was designated to lead the new government following marathon power-sharing talks between leaders of alliance partners and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and BJP National president Amit Shah.
Twists and turns during the negotiations forced multiple delays in the ceremony which was first officially fixed for 9 pm on Monday, postponed to 11 pm and eventually held at 2 am on Tuesday.
The events led to the Opposition Congress slamming the Governor as "partisan" and "complicit" in the "horse-trading". The party had staked claim after Parrikar's passing and insists Sinha should have invited it to form the government by virtue of being the single-largest party in the House of 36 with 14 MLAs.
Later, post the House being adjourned, Sawant told the media that the April 23 Lok Sabha and Assembly by-elections will be a challenge which they will win.
"This is a challenge for me and definitely we will win this challenge. We will win both Lok Sabha seats and the Assembly seats," the chief minister said.
