Not only MLAs, Goa hunts for House files too

The Goan theatre of absurd saw a fresh twist today with pro-tem Speaker Fransisco Sardinha alleging files pertaining to Deputy CM Filipe Ner...

The Goan theatre of absurd saw a fresh twist today with pro-tem Speaker Fransisco Sardinha alleging files pertaining to Deputy CM Filipe Neri Rodrigues’ disqualification were missing from the Speaker’s chamber and a few Congress MLAs revolting against the induction of a BJP defector into the Cabinet.

Sardinha entered the Speaker’s chamber, accompanied by police and panchas this evening, only to find the documents missing. On Monday, the BJP had alleged that Sardinha, Rodrigues and lawyer Mahesh Sonak had broken into the Speaker’s cabin and tampered with the documents.

CM Pratapsingh Rane on Tuesday said he would seek a vote of confidence before March 28 when the Budget session of the Assembly is proposed to start.

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Meanwhile, several ‘‘loyalist’’ Congress MLAs threatened to revolt against Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane for his decision to induct former BJP leader Digambar Kamat into the Cabinet.

Kamat had quit his seat and BJP membership and will have to contest afresh in six months. Congress MLAs say Kamat’s induction would set a bad precedent. ‘‘The loyalists are unhappy that this is becoming a government entirely of defectors,’’ party spokesperson and ‘‘loyalist’’ Jitendra Deshprabhu said. One of the rebels said at least three MLAs were unhappy at defectors being rewarded and may even join hands with the BJP.

	Vajpayee calls for fresh polls in Goa

	• NEW DELHI: Accusing the Goa Governor of ‘‘murdering’’ democracy, former PM A.B. Vajpayee on Tuesday demanded dissolution of the Assembly and fresh polls. ‘‘Democracy has been murdered in Goa. The Governor has crossed the limits of his powers and dismissed an elected government. This is an issue of serious concern for democracy. The Assembly should be dissolved and fresh elections held in the state,’’ Vajpayee said here. —PTI

The Congress, on the other hand, said it had enough powers to get two MLAs from the BJP camp disqualified. The Congress wants Matanhy Saldanha, the lone MLA from the United Goans Democratic Party, disqualified for defying the party whip and voting in favour of the Manohar Parrikar government on February 2. A petition has been filed before pro-tem Speaker Fransisco Sardinha by the UGDP and may be taken up in a day or two. The Congress party is also lobbying with Governor SC Jamir to disqualify BJP MLA Vinay Tendulkar for holding an office of profit. Tendulkar was parliamentary secretary in Parrikar’s government.

Deputy Chief Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues today filed a petition before Sardinha, requesting the order issued by former speaker Satarkar disqualifying him as MLA not be executed. ‘‘Though an order issued by a speaker cannot be reviewed by another speaker under a Supreme Court ruling, the speaker has enough powers to prevent an order from being executed,’’ Deshprabhu said.

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The police raided the houses of Sadanand Thanawade, MLA, Satish Dhond BJP general secretary, and Rajendra Janu, who have been accused of forging Rodrigues’ signature on the party’s membership form.

NDA members forced an adjournment of both Houses of Parliament over the Goa issue. In the Lok Sabha, leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani, speaking on his notice for an adjournment motion, said, ‘‘A democratically elected government has been dismissed in an arbitrary manner.’’ The Atal Behari Vajpayee Government, he pointed out, had not dismissed a single state government. He said the office of governor had been abused. In the Rajya Sabha, NDA members shouted slogans and moved in to the well.