Goa govt in crisis

The seven-month old Digambar Kamat-led coalition government plunged into deep crisis Wednesday evening after three ministers – Mickky Pacheco, Jose Philip D’Souza and Vishwajeet Rane (Independent) resigned from the Cabinet and Nilkant Haldarnkar as parliamentary secretary on a day of fast paced developments.

At midnight, Jose Philip D’Souza – the leader of NCP’s legislature wing – announced that all the three MLAs of the party had withdrawn support to the government. Vishwajeet also stated that he had sent in his letter withdrawing support to the government.

But this couldn’t be confirmed from the Raj Bhavan.High Commands of both Congress and NCP were deputing their emissaries to Goa on fire-fighting mission.As reported by Herald last week, a revolt was brewing and Vishwajeet and Babush were behind it with the support of Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar.

From the time Kamat took a decision recommending to the Centre to scrap SEZ in Goa, what appeared to be pro-SEZ backers had taken the lead in the toppling game.What unfolded today was a meticulously planned game – to bring down the government on the floor of the House on a Finance Bill – the Goa Appropriation Bill 2008 (on supplementary grants).

For more than a week now, Babush had been trying to form a cohesive group of NCP, SGF and Independent member Vishwajeet, days after he alleged harassment to his workers over IT Habitat matter.

Sources also said some members had demanded with the chief minister that finance portfolio should be removed from Dayanand Narvekar but the High Command appeared to have taken it lightly.A crucial meeting of senior leaders of various parties who were part of the conspiracy – was held last night which ended at 3 in the morning where the strategy to topple the government on Finance Bill was chalked out, sources said.By Wednesday afternoon rumours were rife that the government was shaky and that the NCP had issued a threat of withdrawal from the government.

When NCP’s High Command came to know of it, central leader Praful Patel spoke to one of their MLAs.Absence of two Congress MLAs in the assembly – Gurudas Gauns and Shyam Satardekar – put the treasury benches on the back-foot and efforts were made to get in touch with them.Sources said that as the government had to pass the money bill, Gauns was asked to come back from Mumbai where he had gone for medical check-up.

As he didn’t make it, the Congress leaders panicked. Apparently realizing that there was a high probability of some members abstaining or voting against the Bill, they decided to seek adjournment of the House. When the House reassembled at 5.05 pm after tea-break, the panic-stricken chief minister sought adjournment of the House on account of serious accident that happened in Pernem today. “Thirteen people have died and ten are serious.

There have been queries from Central ministers” he told the House adding that he and his Cabinet colleagues have to rush to the site. Granting his request promptly Speaker Rane adjourned the House till 2.30 pm on Thursday.As a result, Motion for Congratulation moved by St Cruz MLA Victoria Fernandes on 41st Anniversary of Opinion Poll Day was left incomplete.This is the second attempt to dethrone the government within six months. In July end, Babush, Churchill and Parrikar had masterminded a revolt but they couldn’t prove their numbers on the floor of the House.

Shocked MLAs of the Congress held a CLP meeting in the assembly complex Porvorim where they took stock of the situation and discussed some strategies to fight back.Once again there’s a high probability that the latest development may be caught in a legal tangle.

The question being asked is whether the three MLAs of NCP can withdraw support without the approval of the party?

Courtesy:oherald.in
Complete artical HERE