Trust vote today NT Staff Reporter Panaji, Feb 27: Stage is set for the trial of strength of the 25-day-old Pratapsing Rane government on the floor of the state legislative assembly tomorrow. Both — the ruling Congress-combine and the Bharatiya Janata Party — have finalised their strategies for the floor test even as claims and counter claims on the fate of the motion continued.
The legislature department, which is normally closed on Sundays, was opened today and staff members were seen busy in making arrangement for the tomorrow’s session. The question mark over sitting arrangement in the assembly continued. Officials were tight-lipped to disclose anything on the same. Congress leaders, who are camping in a five-star hotel in Dona Paula, expressed confidence that the Chief Minister, Mr Pratapsing Rane would prove his majority on the floor of the House as per the direction of the Governor, Mr S C Jamir. The Congress leaders stated that all the party legislators were united and denied that there would be cross-voting from Congress benches. As against this, the BJP spokesperson, Mr Laxmikant Parsenkar told reporters this morning that “certain dissatisfied” Congress MLAs would express their anger on the floor of the House by defeating the vote of confidence. However, he refused to disclose names of any MLAs. The all-India Congress committee general-secretary and incharge of Goa desk, Ms Margaret Alva, who arrived here this evening, held a meeting with all 18 party legislators and guided them on the crucial trial of strength. The Congress-combine is in comfortable position to win the trust vote with 18 MLAs in the 36-member Goa House. The combine strength is — Congress (15), Nationalist Congress Party (1), Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (1), and one Independent. However, the Speaker, Mr Viswas Satarkar is yet to give his order on a disqualification petition filed against the Independent MLA, Mr Filipe Neri Rodrigues. Even if Mr Rodrigues is disqualified before the assembly session begins, the Congress-combine strength with 17 members is comfortable to win the trust vote. Technically, BJP-combine’s present strength stands at 18. However, with the Margao MLA, Mr Digamber Kamat quitting his membership of the legislative assembly and shifting his loyalty to the Congress, the BJP strength has reduced to 17 including the Speaker who has no vote. This reduces the BJP strength to 16. But Mr Kamat continues to be BJP member of the House as the Speaker has not accepted his resignation till late today evening. Mr Kamat attended the Congress MLAs’ meeting this evening and party leaders informed that Mr Kamat had reaffirmed his commitment on his resignation. The Goa pradesh Congress committee president, Mr Luizinho Faleiro said Mr Kamat would not change his stand. Besides, there is a disqualification petition filed against Mr Kamat by the Vasco MLA, Mr Rajendra Arlekar praying the Speaker that Mr Kamat’s resignation letter should not be accepted before hearing the petition. The petitioner has also prayed that Mr Kamat be restrained from the House tomorrow. The BJP’s national general-secretary, Mr Pramod Mahajan has arrived in Goa to guide party MLAs on floor strategy. The police have made elaborate arrangement around the assembly complex to avoid any untoward incidents. The police have promulgated prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code all over North Goa district. Besides, policemen have also been posted at residences of some Congress MLAs, besides, the Speaker’s residence at Marcela.
