'Digambar Kamat not leaving Congress'

Leader of opposition in Goa assembly Chandrakant Kavlekar has refuted speculations of former Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat quitting Congress and accused the BJP of spreading 'rumours'.

Speaking to ANI, Kavlekar said, "Former chief minister and Congress leader Digambar Kamat will not leave the party. He is our senior leader and we can't even think of him leaving the party. BJP is creating these rumours because the situation is not well within their party. This also proves that BJP doesn't have a leader."

He also expressed discontent over not receiving a reply from Governor Mridula Sinha on the appointment request made by him on Saturday to stake claim to form the government.

"Yesterday only we had asked for an appointment but we haven't got it yet. We have requested her that present government is almost non-existent and such government must be dismissed. We are trying to contact Goa Governor Mridula Sinha for an appointment to stake a claim as the single largest party. BJP office bearers directly go and meet the governor and as a leader of the opposition when I am asking for time, we are not being given the same. The Governor's office should not be political."

Kavlekar also stated that Congress will decide the way forward after its CLP meeting if they fail to receive a call from the Governor.

"We haven't received a call yet, we will wait for her response till tomorrow after which the CLP will decide on the next course of action", he said.

Kavlekar had on Saturday written a letter to the Governor claiming that Congress is the single largest party and the Governor should give them a chance to prove majority on the floor of the house.

Congress has time and again staked claim to form government in the state citing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's ill health.

Congress is currently the single-largest party in the state with 14 MLAs. BJP has 13 legislators, including Parrikar, and its government is supported by three MLAs each of the Goa Forward Party and Maharashtra Gomantak Party, and three Independents. Two Congress MLAs have resigned after defecting to BJP.