Three ministers in Goa resigned tonight, plunging the Congress-led coalition government in crisis barely seven months after its formation amid suspense whether a crucial finance Bill will survive. | |
| The ministers, Vishavajit Rane (Independent), Francisco alias Micky Patheco (NCP) and Joace Philip (NCP), tendered their resignations to Governor SC Jamir on a day of fast-paced developments that saw a revolt by a section of the ministers and MLAs from coalition parties. They have, however, not quit as legislators. |
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| The Assembly was to take up the Goa Appropriation Bill this evening but the voting was postponed after the coalition partners threatened to withdraw support. |
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| The Digamber Kamat government was in trouble with at least seven legislators reportedly deciding to vote against the Bill. |
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| The government will fall if the Bill is defeated. It was speculated that the three-member NCP, the second largest party in the coalition, would also vote against it. |
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| In a House of 40, the ruling coalition has 23 members "" the Congress (16), the NCP (3), the Save Goa Front (2) and Independents (2). The United Goans Democratic party's legislator Atanasio Monserratte gives issue-based support. The opposition has 16 members "" the BJP (14) and the MGP (2). |
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| Kamat convened an emergency Cabinet meeting after which he claimed his government was firmly in saddle. |
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| The differences within the ruling coalition, which has been simmering since long, came to boil today with Monserratte having a verbal duel with Finance Minister Dayanand Narvekar over the proposed Rajiv Gandhi Information Technology Habitat. |
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| While Narvekar, who is also the IT minister, supported the habitat, Monserratte said he was ready to die in his opposition to the project. |
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| Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawar warned of "extreme action" against his party's MLAs in Goa after their decision to withdraw support to the Congress-led government. |
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