Horse-trading intensifies in Goa

Interestingly, the ruling coalition has parked all its legislators in the official residence of the Chief Minister. “We need just one of them to come over to our side,” Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Manohar Parrikar said. According to him, some legislators who are presently in the Congress camp may vote in favour of Chief Minister Wilfred D’Souza when he decides to take his vote of confidence.

With three independentMLAs in the 40-member house evenly divided between the Congress and rival coalition political uncertainity in the state continues. D’Souza, who was away in England during the time of the coup, is expected to be back only on Sunday, according to sources close to him. D’Souza who will meet the Governor shortly after his arrival will insist on taking a vote of confidence on the floor of the House. Though the winter session is scheduled to begin from December 2, a special session could be easily called should the need arise, according to government sources.Should the government lose the vote of confidence on the floor of the house the Bharatiya Janata Party would demand dissolution of the assembly, Parrikar said.

Meanwhile, rumours are flying thick and fast about the role played by some industrial groups and mine owners in toppling the D’Souza Government. During his three-and-half-month long tenure D’Souza had earned the ire of several industrial groups by reversing several decisions taken by his predecessorPratapsinh Rane.

A much-publicised raid on mine owners had also pitted this inflential lobby against the Chief Minister. The rumours were also fuelled by the fact that all the Congress legislators and Members of Parliament were housed in five-star hotels for two days. The AICC observer Govindrao Adik who was put up at a seven-star hotel was even forced to deny that somebody was funding his stay at the resort.