CM suggests Feb 3 for vote of confidence

Today, he had the support of tourism minister Matanhy Saldanha, who cut short a visit to Spain, to back Parrikar. ‘‘I am not a migratory bird to flit from one party to another,’’ Saldanha said.

However, his party, the United Goans’ Democratic Party (UGDP) has thrown in with the Congress-led coalition and threatened action against Saldanha. UGDP chief Radharao Gracias said Saldanha would be disqualified under anti-defection laws.

Meanwhile, the Congress filed a no-confidence notice against Speaker Viswas Satarkar and Deputy Speaker Narhari Haldankar. The Speaker, on the other hand, admitted a disqualification petition by fellow legislator Rajesh Patnekar against Independent MLA Philip Neri Rodrigues. No details of the petition were available. ‘‘We don’t want the other side to prepare a defence,’’ BJP MLA Rajendra Arlekar said.

Rodrigues, who won the last elections with BJP support, had quit Parrikar’s Cabinet to join ‘‘Operation Topple’’ against the Chief Minister.

Congress leader Luizinho Faleiro said the Governor should dismiss the government under Article 164 as it has lost its majority. Sources said the Governor is waiting for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to return to Delhi before taking a decision.

The Governor today called up Patil, who is on a tour of North-East, and discussed the political situation in Goa.

Patil was of the view that Jamir, who was consulting constitutional and legal experts, was on the ‘‘right track’’, government sources said. He is scheduled to return to Delhi on February 2. Goa has been locked in a political stalemate after resignation of four BJP MLAs and the withdrawal of support of two legislators of regional parties supporting the BJP-led state government. The Governor has accepted the resignation of all four BJP MLAs.