The Manohar Parrikar government on Thursday proved its majority in the Goa Assembly, winning the trust vote 22-16 in the 40-member house.
The Congress, the single-largest party with 17 MLAs, suffered a jolt as its legislator Viswajit Rane quit the Assembly, refusing to vote against the trust motion and defying the party whip.
Viswajit, the son of Congress veteran and former Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane, said he was also quitting the party. While Viswajit was elected from Valpoi, his father won from Poriem.
The Congress accused the BJP of horse-trading and other unfair means to retain power in the State.
Dig at Digvijay
After winning the vote, a jubilant Parrikar said the Congress never had the numbers on its side. He said the Congress created the hype over the BJP’s bid to form the government because there was a demand for Digvijay Singh to step down as the AICC General Secretary in charge of the State.
“It happens when you come to Goa only to enjoy, not to work,” he quipped, addressing the media. He also denied charges of horse-trading levelled by the Congress, calling them “wild and coloured” allegations.
He was flanked by Goa Forward Party (GFP) leader Vijai Sardesai and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLA Sudin Dhavalikar, whose support sealed the deal in favour of the BJP. The BJP’s tally had come down to 13 from 21 in the 2012 polls.
The 61-year-old Chief Minister proved his majority with 12 legislators from the BJP, three from the GFP, three from the MGP, three Independents and one from the NCP supporting the trust motion.
BJP MLA Siddharth Kuncolienkar was made Pro-tem Speaker.
Parrikar, who resigned as Defence Minister from the Union Cabinet earlier this week, was sworn in as Chief Minister along with nine other MLAs by Governor Mridula Sinha on March 14.