Parrikar is Goa CM, has to prove majority in 48 hours
Supreme Court provides a breather, Cong cries ‘cheating’ ●
Manohar Parrikar was on Tuesday sworn in as chief minister of Goa to head a coalition government of local allies and Independents, 3 days after the BJP ended second behind the Congress in a fractured mandate.
Earlier in the day, the Congress suffered a setback in the Supreme Court which refused to stay 61-year-old Parrikar's swearing-in ceremony as sought by the party.
However, the apex court set a deadline by which Parrikar will have to prove the majority of the BJP-led government. The floor test will take place on Thursday.
Throughout much of Tuesday, the Congress and the BJP were locked in a verbal duel over government formation in Goa and Manipur with the saffron party being accused of “stealing” the mandate of people using money power, a charge rejected by the BJP as baseless.
Parrikar returns to Goa as the chief minister for the fourth time. At a function held at the Raj Bhavan, the Governor administered the oath of office and secrecy to Parrikar along with nine MLAs, including two members of the BJP, three of the Goa Forward Party, two of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and as many Independents. They will be allotted ministerial portfolios after the floor test.
Addressing reporters later, Parrikar exuded confidence that his government will last its full term. “I would prove majority on the floor of the House on Thursday only after which the portfolios would be distributed,” the new CM said.
The Congress and the BJP, on Tuesday, clashed over government formation in Goa and Manipur with the opposition party accusing its rival of “stealing” the mandate of people using money power, drawing a sharp reaction that it complains “a bit too much”.
Rahul Gandhi joined the chorus of party leaders denouncing the BJP, accusing the saffron party of "undermining democracy" in Goa and Manipur by use of money power. The Congress emerged as the single largest party ahead of BJP in the two states in the Assembly polls. Gandhi also alleged that the Goa Governor acted in a “partisan” manner.
Dismissing the accusation of Congress that BJP was “stealing” the mandate in Goa, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said it's "a bit too much" as the Governor could not have invited minority of 17 MLAs to form the government.
"The Congress Party complains a bit too much. It accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of 'stealing' the mandate in Goa. It unsuccessfully petitioned the Supreme Court. It attempted to raise issues in the Lok Sabha," Jaitley said in a Facebook post.
"When there is a clear alliance of 21 MLAs who appeared in person before the Governor, how could Congress get invited to form the government?" Jaitley later said in a media interaction.
"There is no reason for Governor to call Congress to form the government in Goa as BJP had given letters of support of 21 MLAs," Jaitley said, adding that the Congress' 17 MLAs had not even chosen a leader or staked a claim for forming a government in Goa.
Rahul Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament, "They are saying that it is okay for them to misuse the office of the Governor...In the two states where we won, democracy has been undermined by them (BJP) using financial power, money. The mandate of the people of Goa and Manipur has been stolen by them."
Speaking out for the first time after the results of the elections to five states were declared, Gandhi said, "Our fight with the BJP is an ideological fight. What the BJP has done in Manipur and Goa is their ideology - and that is what we are fighting."
"It is a question of how much the BJP has thrown to steal the mandate of people of Manipur and Goa. That is the question. It is not about how soon they went, but how much money the BJP gave to steal the mandate of Goa and Manipur," Gandhi said on queries as to why Congress "delayed" staking claim for government formation.
Alleging that the Goa Governor acted in a "partisan" manner, he said a letter was issued in favour of Manohar Parrikar even before the Congress staked its claim.
"(Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun) Kharge ji showed me a letter from the Governor appointing Mr. Parrikar as Chief Minister before any floor test or anything happened. So it is difficult for us to stake a claim if the Governor is already acting in a partisan manner," he said.
"The Congress complains a bit too much. It accused BJP of 'stealing' the mandate in Goa. It unsuccessfully petitioned the Supreme Court and attempted to raise issues in the Lok Sabha" –Arun Jaitley