Addressing a press conference Prakash Javadekar said there had been speculation for last one week that five congress MLAs led by a minister were planning to switch allegiance to Manohar Parrikar and this had caused considerable trouble in the state and particularly in the congress party.

"In the S R Bomai case the Supreme court has ruled that the trail of strength should be held on the floor of the house. Since the house is already in session there is no need to convene the assembly. Soon after the house began proceedings in the morning the congress MLAs created problems and the speaker adjourned the house for one hour," he said.

Javadekar claimed that the majority was with them and Maharashtravadi Gomantrak Party and other small parties and independent MLAs have signed a letter addressed to governor of the state pledging their allegiance to Parrikar. "With congress MLA Mrs Fernandes resigning from the house the effective strength has come down to 37 and we have 21 MLAs on our side.

"This would be the first case of test for the government after the installation of the new President of India Mrs Pratibha Patil [Images]," he said.

A senior congress leader said that this was crude attempt by the BJP to come to power through backdoor and they would be able to counter the challenge and prove the majority on the floor of the house.