Political crisis in Goa as three BJP members resign

8220;We have decided to withdraw support to the government. We will meet the Governor and communicate the party8217;s decision8221;, Education Minister Prakash Phadte, who is among those who quit on Saturday said.

8220;Some like-minded people will join the BJP8221;, he said without elaborating. Power Minister Digambar Kamat and Health Minister Suresh Amonkar, besides Phadte 8212; have submitted their resignation letters to the leader of the BJP legislature party, Manohar Parrikar.

Meanwhile, both the Governor, Mohd Fazal and the Chief Minister Francisco Sardinha, are out of station. According to official sources they were expected to return here on Sunday as per schedule.

In yet another development, the Congress Legislature Party in the state suffered a jolt when its four MLAs, led by Ravi Naik, 8220;split8221; reducing the strength of the party in the 40-member house to six, including the speaker. Meanwhile, BJP sources said the party had not been consulted on some recent government decisions.The Goa Peoples Congress party GPCP of Sardinha has a strength of eleven in the house.

In the 40-member house, the party wise strength is: GPCP11, BJP 10, Congress 10 before today8217;s split and six after, Congress Sheikh Hasan group 5, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party 2, Nationalist Congress Party and Independent one each.