In a major show of strength for the Bharatiya Janata Party, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday cleared a crucial trust vote in the state Assembly. Parrikar, who returned to his home turf after resigning as Union Defence Minister, received 22 votes in the floor test. The Congress’ votes against Parrikar dwindled to 16, as party MLA Vishwajit Rane abstained from voting. Just moments before the floor test ,a ‘disillusioned’ Rane had declared that he would ‘vote with the Congress.’
The BJP stitched together a government after party stalwart and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari reached Goa to preside over intense negotiations with regional parties Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and Goa Forward, each of whom won three seats. While the MGP, a former BJP ally in Goa, came on-board easily, it was Sardesai’s Goa Forward that allowed Parrikar to cross the halfway mark. Known to be a frequent baiter of Parrikar, Sardesai is now a member of the former Defence Ministers cabinet in Goa.
Meanwhile, uncertainty looms over the Goa unit of the Congress party. State in-charge Digvijaya Singh, accused by his own of gross mismanagement, could see most party MLAs switching over to the BJP.
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