The BJP-led coalition of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in Goa today smoothly won the floor vote with 22 MLAs extending their support to the new government in the 40-member House.
The BJP-led government needed support of 21 MLAs to allow the government to continue. During the one-day session of the Goa assembly, all newly elected MLAs took oath before taking part in the trust vote.
13 BJP MLAs, three each from the Goa Forward Party and the Maharashtravadi Gomantak Party, as well as two independents voted in favour of Parrikar.
Congress MLA Vishwajeet Rane, however, didn’t participate in the trust vote. The Congress, which emerged as the single largest party with 18 MLAs, bagged support of 16 lawmakers.
Parrikar was appointed as the new CM of the coastal state by Governor Mridula Sinha on Monday after he staked claim on Sunday to form the government. Parrikar, who was sworn-in along with nine ministers on Tuesday, had claimed the support of 22 MLAs, two more than the halfway mark.
Addressing the media later, Parrikar said that he enjoys support of 23 MLAs and that the claims made by Congress party were void.
"We have proved before the people of India, we had support of 23 and we proved it on the floor of House," Parrikar said.
"Digvijaya's claims that they have numbers, debunked. Right from the beginning they didn't have numbers," he added.
To a question on appointing a deputy CM, he replied: "It is a government of coalition and decision in this regard will be taken by the coalition.
"Everyone voluntarily came and voted, none of them were kept in a hotel room or secluded common place as was the case of opposition," the CM said.
Highlights:
* Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar reaches state assembly ahead of the floor test at the special session today.
Initially, Goa Government Dr Mridula Sinha had granted 15-day time to the new government to prove majority. However, the Supreme Court, after Congress’ intervention, advanced the date to March 16. In its order, the apex court directed that the Assembly session be called at 11 am on March 16 and made it clear that the only business of the House will be the holding of floor test after swearing-in of the members.
The 61-year-old IITian, who stepped down as Defence Minister and made a home-coming as the Goa Chief Minister for the fourth time, was confident of proving the majority on the support given to him by his alliance partners -- Goa Forward Party (GFP), Maharashtravadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Independents.
