Cong mops up majority in Goa sans allies
The AICC on Monday night got the Save Goa Front (SGF), which has two MLAs, to merge with the party even as it cleared the requests of the three independent MLAs.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: Within days after the Digambar Kamat government in Goa survived a toppling bid by the NCP rebels and some independent MLAs, the Congress central leadership on Monday night moved quickly to neutralise the black-mailing potential of the allies and unguided characters in the state Assembly by managing majority on its own in the 40-member House.
The AICC on Monday night got the Save Goa Front (SGF), which has two MLAs, to merge with the party even as it cleared the requests of the three independent MLAs, including the kingpin of the recent rebellion, Viswajit Rane and UGDP’s unattached legislator Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate to join the party. The decisions, which will raise the Congress strength to 21 in the Assembly, were taken at a meeting of AICC leaders Ahmmed Patel and B K Hariprasad with these new entries and chief minister Kamat here.
With these developments, the Congress along with three-member NCP, whose clout stands diluted, has 24 members in the Assembly. A formal announcement of the merger, sources said, will be made in Panchi on Tuesday.
Part of the deal is that both the Churchill brothers of the SGF will continue as ministers, while Mr Rane and Mr Monserrate will join the state cabinet soon.
With the Congress gaining additional muscle in the Assembly, it remains to be seen whether it will stick to the earlier truce of dropping the state finance and home ministers. Apart from the NCP’s loss of clout, another loser will be the two-member MGP, which crossed over from the BJP camp to the ruling side last week with a demand for ministerial berths.
The AICC on Monday night got the Save Goa Front (SGF), which has two MLAs, to merge with the party even as it cleared the requests of the three independent MLAs, including the kingpin of the recent rebellion, Viswajit Rane and UGDP’s unattached legislator Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate to join the party. The decisions, which will raise the Congress strength to 21 in the Assembly, were taken at a meeting of AICC leaders Ahmmed Patel and B K Hariprasad with these new entries and chief minister Kamat here.
With these developments, the Congress along with three-member NCP, whose clout stands diluted, has 24 members in the Assembly. A formal announcement of the merger, sources said, will be made in Panchi on Tuesday.
Part of the deal is that both the Churchill brothers of the SGF will continue as ministers, while Mr Rane and Mr Monserrate will join the state cabinet soon.
With the Congress gaining additional muscle in the Assembly, it remains to be seen whether it will stick to the earlier truce of dropping the state finance and home ministers. Apart from the NCP’s loss of clout, another loser will be the two-member MGP, which crossed over from the BJP camp to the ruling side last week with a demand for ministerial berths.
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