CM Parrikar unwell, Opp. Cong stakes claim in Goa

Panaji, Sept. 17: With chief minister Manohar Parrikar hospitalised in Delhi, Goa’s main Opposition Congress party submitted a memorandum to governor Mridula Sinha on Monday, staking claim to form an alternative government.

The move coincided with three central BJP observers’ talks with Goa leaders and allies on the vacuum created by Mr Parrikar’s absence.

The Congress, which has 16 members in the 40- member state Assembly, has urged the governor not to dissolve the House and instead invite the party to form the government. In the BJP- led ruling alliance, the saffron party has 14 MLAs, its allies the GFP and the MGP have three each. Three Independents and an MLA from NCP also support the BJP.

BJP president Amit Shah and many senior party leaders visited ailing Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar at the All- India Institute of Medical Sciences ( AIIMS) here on Monday. Sources in the premier institute said although 62- year- old Parrikar “is not critical”, he was under observation. He is admitted to the old private ward under Dr Pramod Garg, professor of gastroenterology. Apart from Mr Shah, Union health minister J. P. Nadda and Union minister Vijay Goel also paid a visit to Mr Parrikar. The visits by Mr Shah and other senior leaders came after Goa’s main Opposition party, the Congress, submitted a memorandum to governor Mridula Sinha, staking claim to form an alternative government. Earlier in the day, Mr Shah flew to Delhi from Rajasthan and left again for the state after visiting AIIMS.