Goa BJP MLAs to meet again today after Congress stakes claim to form govt

Amidst reports that the Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s health is fluctuating, state Power Minister Nilesh Cabral on Saturday called a meeting of BJP MLAs on Sunday at the party’s Panaji office.

Meanwhile, sources told ANI that BJP national leaders BL Santosh and Avinash Khanna will arrive in Goa today to review Parrikar’s health and discuss the political situation in the state.

The health of Parrikar, who is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, had deteriorated on Saturday sparking hectic political activities across parties in the coastal state.

In a related development, the Congress staked claim to form government in Goa claiming that the Manohar Parrikar dispensation has lost its majority in the Assembly following the demise of BJP MLA Francis D'Souza.

In a letter to Goa Governor Mridula Sinha, Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar staked claim to form the government and demanded dismissal of the BJP-led dispensation.

The strength of Goa Assembly has reduced from 40 to 37 after the death of D'Souza and resignation of two MLAs -- Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte.

While the Congress currently has 14 MLAs, down from 16 after Sopte and Shirodkar left it to join the BJP, the latter has 13 MLAs.

Three MLAs each of the Goa Forward Party, MGP and an Independent and the lone NCP legislator are supporting the BJP.  

Late Saturday night, a group of six MLAs, who are alliance partners in the government, met Parrikar at his private residence and asserted that Parrikar's health condition is stable.

The group of MLAs included Goa Forward Party's Vijai Sardesai, Jayesh Salgaonkar, Vinod Palyekar and Independents - Rohan Khaunte, Govind Gawade and Prasad Gaonkar.

Reiterating the same, Union Minister for AYUSH Shripad Naik said, "His health condition witnessed slight up and down but he is stable now. The meeting of BJP MLA's that was called by party is about by-election and Lok Sabha elections."