MGP-UGDP
split, but all support Govt.
Sandesh Prabhudesai
21 July 2003
The coalition partners of the BJP-led government - the Maharashtrawadi
Gomantak Party and the United Goans Democratic Party - have
split, keeping Goa's infamous defection drama continued.
Interestingly, none of the legislators from the original
group or the splinter group, have withdrawn support to the
government. The three-party coalition thus now becomes the
five-party coalition.
Eventually, the splinter groups plan to join the saffron
camp.
Tourism minister Mickky Pacheco and Babush Monseratte from
the UGDP have now formed the UGDP (Secular), leaving lone
legislator Mathany Saldhana behind.
Similarly, transport minister Pandurang Madkaikar has formed
the MGP (Nationalist), leaving PWD minister Sudin Dhawalikar
alone in the party.
"It will have no effect on the government, since none
of these legislators have withdrawn support to my government.
The split has occurred due to their internal problems",
claims chief minister Manohar Parrikar.
The whole state however knows that Parrikar has wooed all
the three ministers to split and join the BJP camp. He has
reportedly claimed that six legislators from the opposition
Congress would otherwise join the ruling party.
The 17-member BJP was heading the ruling coalition till date
with the support of three-member UGDP, two-member MGP and
water resources minister Philip Neri Rodrigues, an independent.
UGDP's Saldhana has remained out of power, but supports the
coalition.
The Congress, in spite of having 16 members elected to the
40-member House during elections held in June last year, however
remained in opposition. The regional outfits preferred to
align with the BJP, claiming that they are anti-Congress.
Following these developments, the MGP's organisational wing
has declared that they have withdrawn support to the government.
PWD minister Dhawalikar, the sole legislator left behind,
however has not yet resigned.
The MGP has also submitted letter to the speaker, urging
him to declare Madkaikar an unattached member, claiming that
he was expelled from the party on Saturday, 19 July.
Madkaikar has however claimed that he had already split from
the party the previous day, on Friday, 18 July. He has submitted
letters to the speaker and the state governor Kidar Nath Sahani
to this effect.
The UGDP's defected ministers have also submitted similar
letters to the speaker and the governor on the same day.
The opposition Congress as well as the organisational leaders
of the MGP and the UGDP claim that the developments would
create instability in the state once again.
But the BJP camp claims that it would ensure further stability,
no matter the unethical defection culture gets strengthened.
Your
Comments Please
