Goa's Cong led govt faces crisis

PANAJI: Three ministers in Goa resigned tonight plunging the Congress-led coalition Government in crisis barely seven months after its formation amid suspense whether a crucial finance bill will survive.

The ministers -- Vishavajit Rane (Independent), Francisco alias Micky Patheco and Joace Philip (both NCP) --tendered their resignations to Governor S C Jamir on a day of fast paced developments which saw a revolt by section of the ministers and MLAs from coalition parties. They have however not quit as Legislators.

The Goa Appropriation Bill was to have taken up today in the Assembly this evening but voting was postponed to tomorrow giving some breather to Chief Minister Digamber Kamat after the coalition partners threatened to withdraw support.

The Kamat government was in troubled waters with at least seven legislators reportedly deciding to vote against the Bill. The government will fall if the bill is defeated. It was speculated that the three-member NCP, the second largest party in the coalition, would also vote against it.

In a House of 40, the ruling coalition has 23 members-- Congress(16), NCP(3), Save Goa Front(2) and Independents(2). United Goans Democratic party's unattached legislator Atanasio Monserratte gives issue based support to the government. The opposition has 16 members with BJP(14) and MGP(2).

Kamat convened an emergency Cabinet meeting after which he claimed his government is firmly in saddle. Rubbishing reports that his government was facing a crisis, Kamat claimed "there is absolutely no instability."

The House was abruptly adjourned tomorrow in unusual circumstances after Kamat asked Speaker Pratapsingh Rane to do so on the plea that he had to visit an accident site in which 11 persons were killed.