Cong, RJD to stake claim in Goa, Bihar
The Congress will observe Friday as ‘Save Democracy Day’ and hold demonstrations across the country in protest against Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala’s decision to invite the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form the government, and swearing in BS Yeddyurappa as the chief minister.
On the same day, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress will stake the claim to form the governments in Bihar, and Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya, respectively. While the RJD is the single largest party in Bihar, Congress has more seats than any other party in Goa.
“I along with RJD and Congress legislators would meet Governor Satyapal Malik at 1 pm on Friday and stake claim to form the government in Bihar,” RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav told reporters in Patna. “If Yeddyurappa got a chance to form the government in Karnataka, why is the RJD being deprived? Why are there two yardsticks for Karnataka and Bihar?” he asked.
In the 2015 assembly elections in Bihar, the RJD emerged as the single-largest party with 80 seats. In the 243-member House, the Janata Dal (United) of chief minister Nitish Kumar has 70 legislators followed by the BJP with 53. The Congress’ strength stands at 27.
In Goa, Congress legislators, led by Chandrakant Kavlekar, will meet Governor Mridula Sinha on Friday and stake the claim to form the government. A formal letter containing signatures of all the 16 Congress legislators will also be submitted to the Governor.
In the assembly elections last year, the Congress bagged 17 seats in the 40-member House.
The BJP, which got 14 seats, formed the government in alliance with the Goa Forward Party and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, both of which had secured three seats each. Three Independents also went with the BJP. Congress party’s Goa in-charge Chella Kumar has been rushed to Panaji to supervise the move.
Giving details about the Friday protests, Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters that senior party leaders and workers will protest the Karnataka Governor’s move in different parts of the country.
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