Goa: Congress appeals ruling BJP allies to quit in the interest of people

The Congress has been demanding a floor test claiming that the coalition government has become rudderless in absence of chief minister Manohar Parrikar who isn't keeping well since the last few months

The Congress in Goa Tuesday appealed to the constituents in the BJP-led coalition government to take a "conscientious call" to quit in the interest of the people.

The opposition party also said that it was in position to provide a stable and performing government in the state.

"It is high time for the allies of the BJP in Goa to leave this headless government. In the interest of Goa, we appeal to the members of the coalition government to take a call as per their conscience and snap ties with the BJP in the interest of the people who have elected them," said Goa Congress spokesman Yatish Naik.

The BJP is in power in alliance with the Goa Forward Party (GFP) headed by Vijai Sardesai, Maharashtravadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and three Independent legislators.

The Congress has been demanding a floor test claiming that the coalition government has become rudderless in absence of chief minister Manohar Parrikar who is not keeping well since the last few months. The CM is currently recuperating at his home here since he was discharged from the AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) in Delhi.

The Congress recently suffered a setback when two of its MLAs resigned and joined the BJP. In the process, the Congress, which had 16 MLAs in its fold, lost its status as the single largest party in Goa.

"Goans do not deserve a headless and leaderless government. This BJP-led government is on a mode to destroy Goa. The chief minister is ailing since the last nine months which has resulted into the complete collapse of administration," said Naik.

He said the Congress was in a position to give a "secular, progressive and performing government in place of the non-performing one headed by Parrikar".

Replying to a query on Congress' willingness to form a coalition government, he said, "The Congress is capable of forming the government and that is the reason we had submitted a memorandum before state Governor (last month) requesting her to call a floor test and make the BJP prove that its government has the numbers".

While the BJP top brass has ruled out any change of guard in Goa, GFP chief Vijai Sardesai had last week said that Parrikar's ailment was affecting the working of the state administration.