No MLA Wants To Support the Congress in Goa, Says CM Parrikar
The Congress on Monday urged Goa Governor Mridula Sinha to invite the party to form the next government.
- Manohar Parrikar takes oath as the Chief Minister of Goa
- The SC refused to stay Manohar Parrikar’s swearing-in as Goa CM
- The Supreme Court ordered a floor test to decide the next government in Goa to be held at 11 am on 16 March
- The SC bench asks Congress to show the support they have and approach the Governor
- Congress accuses the BJP of horse-trading during the hearing of the petition in SC
- The Governor appointed Manohar Parrikar as the CM and invited the BJP to form the government
Only Those Who Deal in Money Can Say Money Changed Hands : CM Parrikar
Adding to the war of words between the Congress and the BJP, Goa’s new Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar rubbished allegations of using money to win votes in the state’s assembly elections. He asserted:
He also added:
Parrikar Welcome to be a "Do Din Ka Sultan": Abhishek Manu Singhvi
Down playing Manohar Parrikar’s oath taking ceremony, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the ceremony “is of no constitutional significance and wIll be nullified in a floor test in the next 48 hours”
No MLA Wants To Support the Congress, Says CM Parrikar
Defending the Bharatiya Janata Party’s post poll alliance in Goa, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar claimed that “ the support extended to BJP to form government in Goa is only for Goa's development.”
Rejecting the Congress’ allegations, he added:
Watch : Manohar Parrikar's Takes Oath as Goa CM
PM Modi Congratulates Manohar Parrikar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated BJP leader Manohar Parrikar for taking oath as Goa Chief Minister.
Congress Has No Basis to Form Govt in Goa: Arun Jaitley
Reacting to the Congress’ claims of “murder of democracy” in Goa, Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Tuesday rubbished the opposition party’s arguments by claiming that “ Congress has no basis to form government in Goa”
Backing the governor’s decision, he cited examples from the past when larger coalitions were favored over parties getting more seats.
Confident of Winning Floor Test: Laxmikant Parsekar
Outgoing Chief Minister of Goa, Laxmikant Parsekar speaking to CNNNews18 expressed confidence that BJP will defeat the Congress on the floor of the assembly.
Congress Complains a Bit Too Much: Arun Jaitley
After the SC's order of holding a floor test, Arun Jaitley said that the Congress complains a bit too much.
"It accused BJP of ‘stealing’ mandate in Goa. It unsuccessfully petitioned before SC," he said.
"Governor in Goa had only one claim of 21 MLAs out of 40 with Parrikar ji as leader. 17 MLAs of Congress did not even make a claim," he added.
Elected Congress MLAs Meet Goa's Governor
All the 17 newly-elected Congress MLAs are meeting the Governor of Goa, Mridula Sinha at her residence.
Split in Congress?
Senior Congress Leader, Renuka Chowdhury slammed Digvijay Singh and called the loss in Goa, stupid. She even asked for the removal of Singh from post of party’s general secretary, Financial Express reported.
She asked Digvijay Singh to take the responsibility for the loss in Goa.
Will React After Swearing-In: Manohar Parrikar
After the SC refused to stay Manohar Parrikar’s appointment as Goa CM, he said that he will react on it after his swearing-in.
“You come at the swearing, I will give reaction after swearing in. Come at 5 o’clock,” he said.
"Democracy is Being Undermined by BJP" : Rahul Gandhi
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi interacted with the media for the first time after the results on Tuesday. He accused the BJP of using financial power and undermining the democracy.
Grounds Raised by Congress in Their Petition
Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who is representing the Congress, told the reporters the grounds on which the party had filed the petition.
Adhering to constitution, the Governor should have consulted the single largest party before giving her nod to BJP to form the government, he said.
The Governor’s decision of inviting the BJP to form the government was made in haste and was a “misuse of the power of the office of the Governor.”
SC Allows Manohar Parrikar's Swearing-in
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay Manohar Parrikar’s swearing-in. The apex court also ordered a floor test to be held at 11am on 16 March.
Supreme Court Orders Floor Test in Goa on Tuesday
The Supreme Court heard Congress’ petition challenging appointment of Manohar Parrikar as Goa CM and ordered for a floor test to be held on Tuesday.
Senior lawyer Harish Salve is representing the Central government while Abhishek Singhvi is representing Congress in the SC.
During the hearing, Congress alleged that BJP involved in horse-trading. The petitioner alleged that BJP has violated constitutional practices.
CJI Khehar observed that the numbers should determine the single largest party in the state. The bench asks Congress to show the numbers and asked why the party didn’t approach the Governor to form the government.
Arun Jaitley Takes Charge as Defence Minister
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley took charge as the Defence Minister on Tuesday.
Jaitley was given the additional charge of the Defence Ministry after Manohar Parrikar resigned to take charge as Goa Chief Minister.
Goa Congress MLAs Argue At Party Meet
Congress legislators were seen arguing during the party’s meeting on Tuesday morning. The legislators were reportedly angry because of the delay in the decision making.
At least three legislators or MLAs have reportedly threatened to quit the party accusing "seniors" of mismanagement, NDTV reported.
Failure on Part of Congress Leadership: Vishwajit Rane, Cong MLA
Congress MLA, Vishwajit Rane on Tuesday said that Congress' decision making was slow which was the reason why they couldn't form the government despite having 17 seats. He didn't name any individuals but blamed the parrty.
Government Must Act According to Constitution: Digvijay Singh
Congress on Tuesday gave an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha over issue of government formation in Goa and Manipur.
Congress leader Digvijay Singh addressed the media on Tuesday and asserted that the single largest party must be called to form the government.
“In Delhi, when the BJP was the largest party, they were called to form the government, but they had refused. That is when AAP was invited, so AAP-Cong formed the government,” he added.
The Congress legislative party is supposed to meet at Congress house in Panjim. Congress MLAs along with Digvijay Singh will call on the Governor after the meeting.
‘Can Prove Majority’: Congress Seeks Invite to Form Govt in Goa
The Congress on Monday urged Goa Governor Mridula Sinha to invite the party to form the next government by virtue of being the single largest party, a day ahead of swearing-in of BJP leader Manohar Parrikar as Chief Minister.
In a memorandum submitted to the Governor on Monday night, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) claimed to have the requisite support and that they can prove the same on the floor of the House.
Read the full story here.
Jaitely to Assume Additional Charge of Defence Ministry
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was given the additional charge of the Defence Ministry after Manohar Parrikar resigned.
"Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has directed that Arun Jaitley, Cabinet Minister, shall be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Defence, in addition to his existing portfolios," a Rashtrapati Bhawan communique said.
This is the second time that Jaitley is holding the additional portfolio of Defence Ministry during the present NDA government.
He was in charge of the ministry earlier from 26 May to 9 November in 2014.
SC to Hear Congress' Petition
The Supreme Court has agreed to urgently hear the Congress' petition challenging the appointment of Manohar Parrikar as the next Chief Minister of Goa. The court is expected to hear the matter at 11 am on Tuesday.
The hurriedly filed petition late in the evening was mentioned at the residence of Chief Justice JS Khehar, who agreed to give an urgent hearing on Tuesday.
Read the full story here.
Congress to Raise Issue in Parliament
The Congress will raise the issue of government formation in Goa and Manipur in Parliament on Wednesday.
In Manipur, efforts continue for government formation in the state as both the BJP and the Congress met the Governor in Imphal last night, with the ruling Congress staking claim to form the government and the BJP showing its strength.
In Goa, the BJP, which won 13 seats in the 40-member Goa Assembly, managed to garner support from other parties and Independents to attain majority under Parrikar. The Congress got 17 seats in the recently-concluded polls.
P Chidambaram Accuses BJP of ‘Stealing Seats’
Former finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram accused the BJP of stealing seats in Goa and Manipur.
Reacting to the development in Goa and Manipur, former Union minister P Chidambaram tweeted, “The BJP is stealing elections in Goa and Manipur. A party that comes second has no right to form the government.”
Read the full story here.
Who Next For Goa?
As counting wrapped up in Goa on 11 March, it became clear that the state was headed for a hung assembly. The BJP got 13 seats, the Congress got 17 and others, including Independents, 10 seats.
Three MLAs each of the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), three Independent MLAs and a sole Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator were literally worth their weight in gold, but also available for picking.
After day-long hectic parleys on Sunday, the BJP claimed to have got the support of 21 MLAs and the Governor invited Parrikar to form the government.
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