Faleiro told to face floor test on Mon
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 04 February 1999 11:37 ISTRejecting chief minister Luizinho Faleiro’s recommendation to dissolve the House paving way for the imposition of the President’s rule, Goa governor J F R Jacob has asked him to prove his majority in the House by Monday.
The 68-day old Congress government, having majority of only one member in the 40-member House, suddenly went into minority yesterday when two of his ministers resigned and supported former chief minister Dr Wilfred de Souza to form the coalition government.
While de Souza immediately staked his claim to form the government, Faleiro submitted a letter to the governor recommending dissolution. He also admitted yesterday of having presumed that he had lost majority.
The 19-member strong Congress is yet to decide whether to face the floor test or submit resignation. The local party leadership is even silent on taking action against social welfare minister Deu Mandrekar, who had attracted disqualification by splitting alone.
Taking de Souza’s claim seriously, the Congress camp presently appears to be worried about few more members shifting sides, though it is doubtful whether six more would join hands with Mandrekar, to make it one third of the party’s strength.
Dr Willy has however claimed that he would get at least two more Congress MLAs on his side by the time Faleiro moves confidence vote in the House. Even if they are disqualified by the speaker, he has reportedly assured them to give ministerial berth for six months.
On the other hand, the eight-member Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party as well as four-member Bharatiya Janata Party is yet to decide whether to participate in the government. The general feeling in the party is to support Dr Willy from outside, as general Assembly polls are hardly 10 months away.
If these two major constituents stay away from being part of the government, then Dr Willy would be left with only six of his Goa Rajiv Congress members, rebel Congress legislator Mandrekar and two independents to form his cabinet.
