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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, FEB 9: The year-long political uncertainty in Goa came to an end today with the Union Cabinet recommending the imposition of President’s Rule in the State.
An emergency meeting of the Union Cabinet was held this evening under the chairmanship of Home Minister L K Advani to take stock of the situation in the State. “After considering the developments in the last few days and also the report sent by Governor J F R Jacob, the Cabinet decided to recommend President’s Rule in the State by invoking Article 356 of the Indian Constitution, dissolution of the State Assembly, to be followed by early elections,” Advani told reporters after the meeting.
According to him, President K R Narayanan had been informed about the decision. “A formal communication to this effect will be sent to him tonight,” he added.
The State had plunged into its latest bout of crisis on Sunday after two legislators withdrew support to the Congress Government led by Luizinho Faleiro. The entire Opposition, which had united under the leadership of former Chief Minister Wilfred D’Souza, staked claim to from the new government.
With the Union Cabinet’s decision, the stage has been set for fresh elections in the State.
Meanwhile, Goa’s politicians and citizens floated quite a few rumours, with Governor Lt General J F R Jacob inaccessible at his official residence a day after Faleiro put in his papers. Raj Bhavan officials stone-walled queries from mediapersons and politicians. All they would say was that a detailed report had been sent to Central Government.
As word spread that the Governor had recommended President’s Rule under Article 356 of the Constitution, a section of politicians, particularly Congress sympathisers, insisted that Lt Gen Jacob had recommended that Faleiro continue as caretaker chief minister. The Governor, on his part, revealed nothing. Reporters who made a scramble for Raj Bhavan were stranded outside the gate.
With political parties convinced that the current Assembly is witnessing its end, preparations are on to fight the elections. The Goa Rajiv Congress, which consists of breakaway group headed by Dr Wilfred D’Souza, received a major jolt today with its youth wing expressing its desire the merge with the original party. On Monday, Faleiro claimed that several legislators of the GRC would like to return to the Congress.
Attempts were also being made to form an alliance of regional parties to take on the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, with its base in North Goa, the United Goans’ Democratic Party, which is strong in South Goa, and the remains of the GRC could fight the elections as an alliance. “There is a demand from party workers to form an alliance,” president of the MGP Surendra Sirsat told presspersons here today.
