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Goa govt on shaky ground
Sandesh Prabhudesai, Panaji
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January 29, 2005 12:38 IST
Last Updated: January 29, 2005 12:57 IST

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Goa [Images] government on Saturday stood on shaky ground as two of its MLAs resigned from the party and two ministers quit the Cabinet.

Manohar ParrikarCongress member of Parliament Churchill Alemao, while confirming the news, told rediff.com that his party will topple the government in 24 hours.

Babush Monserette, who was dropped from the council of ministers by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar [Images] two days ago, resigned from the party early on Saturday along with party colleague Isidore Fernandes.

Fernandes was elected on a BJP ticket just two months ago.

Almost simultaneously, Public Works Minister Sudin Dhawalikar of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and Water Resources Minister Philip Neri Rodrigues, an Independent, withdrew their support to the government.

Though Tourism Minister Mathany Saldhana, the third minister belonging to the United Goans Democratic Party, is away in Spain, his party functionaries have also submitted a letter to Governor S C Jamir withdrawing support to the Parrikar government.

Jamir, who had left for Nagaland on Friday, cut short his trip and  flew back to Goa from Mumbai on Saturday morning.

Even after the resignation of two of its legislators, the BJP has 19 members in the 40-member House. However, with the MGP, the UGDP and an Independent withdrawing their support, there is a big question mark on its government. 

The 15-member Congress is supported by NCP legislator Dr Wilfred de Souza. The Congress' strength will rise to 18 if the two ministers who have quit the government join its camp.

"You just wait and see how we topple the government," said Alemao.

 



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