Congress leads a new front NT Staff Reporter Panaji Jan 30: The legislators belonging to the Congress party, the Nationalist Congress Party; the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, the United Goans Democratic Party and the Independent member, Mr Filip Neri Rodrigues today morning formed Congress-led United Legislature Party, with the UGDP senior vice-president, Mr Radharao Gracias as its convenor to force the Governor, Mr S C Jamir to accede to its demand for dismissal of the Parrikar government.
However, the leaders have not named the person who would head it. Briefing reporters outside the Raj Bhavan at Dona Paula this evening, the Goa pradesh Congress committee president, Mr Luizinho Faleiro informed that the ULP leader would be selected by the Congress high command. Mr Faleiro said the ULP had in a resolution demanded that the Governor should use his prerogative under Article 164 of the Constitution and dismiss the Parrikar government without any delay. He said it was pleasure of the Governor to appoint and dismiss the government. “We have jointly today handed over a memorandum to the Governor requesting him that the present BJP government has lost its majority,” he informed. Mr Faleiro observed that the resignation of four BJP MLAs had created serious constitutional crisis in Goa and that the state cannot go on at this rate and therefore the Congress had demanded dismissal of the government and form an alternative government. “The Governor is the custodian of the Constitution and he has to act when constitutional crises are taking place,” Mr Faleiro stated. The GPCC chief said the BJP MLAs were frustrated and were trying to contact our MLAs by luring them with bribes and other incentives. He said the Speaker, Mr Viswas Satarkar had acted in partisan manner and instead of accepting the resignation of Mr Pandurang Madkaikar the Speaker had not accepted it till now. He said his party would move no-confidence motion against the Speaker and the deputy Speaker, because both had pressurised the MLAs supporting the ULP. Mr Faleiro scoffed off the BJP allegation that the Congress was using pressure tactic through the Raj Bhavan. On the other hand, the UGDP leader, Mr Radharao Gracias informed that the ULP had submitted a list of 19 MLAs and claimed that the BJP’s strength has reduced to 16 MLAs. “I am acting president of the UGDP and I don’t need to speak to Mr Mathany Saldanha, and when BJP MLAs have deserted Mr Parrikar, why Mr Saldanha should support him?,” Mr Gracias questioned. Mr Gracias claimed Mr Saldanha would not support the Parrikar government, who lost his party MLAs.
