PANAJI
The silence over the question about why Goa, a state which went to polls on February 14 and votes polled were counted on March 10, still does not have a government of the day in position has ended, with the opposition alleging some hanky-panky in the BJP camp.
Addressing a press conference in Panaji, former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat claimed that something was amiss in the BJP, which he said had not staked claim to form a government in Goa, eight days after it emerged as the single largest party with just one MLA short of a majority.
Former advocate general and newly-elected Congress MLA Carlos Ferreira also lashed out at the Raj Bhavan for not playing a pro-active role in ensuring that the state gets a fully functional government in place.
“No government has been formed so far and no movement has started towards that end. What should people presume? BJP has 33 percent vote share and 66 percent have voted against it. Non-BJP parties, independent MLAs should think. Why is a democratically elected government not formed yet? For the first time, MLAs have been given oath without a government in place,” Kamat said, adding that if the BJP was unable to form a government for some reason, they should explicitly say so.
“It is loud and clear that ‘all is not well’ in BJP, and hence the people of Goa are deprived of a government to govern the State. We condemn the dilly-dally tactics of the BJP which is depriving the people of Goa from having a full-fledged government in place,” he also said.
Kamat also questioned whether the BJP really had a majority as claimed by its party leaders. “If they cannot form a government, perhaps they do not have a majority,” Kamat said, even as top BJP leaders have maintained that the party had received letters of support from three independent MLAs and two MLAs from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party.
Carlos Ferreira also lashed out at the Governor urging his intervention in the dragging of feet by the BJP to put its government in place. “If the BJP had an absolute majority, there is no proof of majority (required) on the floor of the House but when it is running short it has to. How are you (Governor) allowing this kind of a situation? It is a constitutional impasse, we do not have a government of the day in the chair. How is the administration working?” Ferreira also told a press conference.
“The governor has to perform his duties. He cannot abdicate his duties, his constitutional mandate. He should call upon them or he should take action as per the Constitution. If need be, he can call upon the opposition for their views or he can invoke necessary powers under Article 356 of the Constitution if need be, but then he cannot remain like this twiddling his thumbs,” he further said.
