BJP coalition Govt. finalised
Sandesh Prabhudesai
2 June 2002
Chief minister Manohar Parrikar is all
set to form a Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government
with two regional parties - the United Goans Democratic
Party and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, besides one
independent.
He is expected to be sworn in tomorrow
morning.
While confirming the news, local BJP leader
and MP Shripad Naik said they are also trying for Dr Wilfred
de Souza, the sole legislator of the Nationalist Congress
Party. He is believed to have been offered speaker's post.
After holding confabulations with the two
regional outfits, Parrikar today afternoon rushed to the
Raj Bhavan, along with two legislators each of the UGDP
and the MGP and the independent MLA, to formally communicate
to him the support they have rendered.
The coalition government will thus have
a majority of 22 in the 40-member House, as the BJP has
a strength of 17, the largest single party. The Congress,
on the other hand, has only 16.
The coalition government in Goa became
inevitable with the state Assembly elections held on 30
May throwing a hung Assembly once again.
According to Naik, the strength could go
up if Dr de Souza also supports the coalition government.
The BJP however is still trying to woo the third UGDP legislator
Mathany Saldhana, who is hesitating to join the saffron-led
coalition.
Sudin Dhawalikar and Pandurang Madkaikar
of the MGP and Mickky Pacheco and Babush Monseratte of the
UGDP will participate in the government. Independent MLA
Philip Neri Rodrigues, who was a minister in the erstwhile
BJP government, will also be part of the cabinet.
Parrikar, who preferred to meet his party
legislators after returning from the Raj Bhavan, is meeting
the media at 7 pm.
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