The Congress today decided to stake claim to form government in Goa where it had emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly polls held last year. Chandrakant Kavlekar, Congress Legislature Party chief, said the party will stake claim by submitting a formal letter to Governor Mridula Sinha containing signatures of all the 16 party MLAs.

The BJP has, however, dismissed the Congress’ demand, as a result of frustration at being wiped out of the country’s political map, with the State Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Sadanand Shet Tanavade even urging the Congress to bring its president Rahul Gandhi to Goa, to try and wrest the Government from the ruling BJP-led coalition alliance.

Earlier on Thursday, hours after Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala swore in senior BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa as Chief Minister, State Congress president Girish Chodankar in a missive to the Governor insisted that the Congress be invited to form power in Goa because “it is the single largest party” in the State, as far as legislative strength is concerned.

“We are requesting Her Excellency to follow big brother Karnataka Governor and invite the Congress to form the Goa Government to recitfy a wrong,” Congress State President Girish Chodankar told The Pioneer.

“If the Karnataka Governor can invite the Bharatiya Janata Party, the single largest party to form the Government, why can’t the Goa Governor invite the Congress, the single largest party in Goa, to form the Government here? Why two critieria for two States? Why double standards?” he also said, adding that the Congress had formally sought time from Sinha to state their case. The BJP in its reaction has said that the Congress was merely acting out of frustration.

“The BJP is ruling in Goa with the help of alliance. What is the point of crying now? Let them cry. They have realised now that no one is accepting them in the entire country. In Karnataka too, their seat share has shrunk and they do not have a Government anywhere,” Tanavade told The Pioneer.

“BJP alliance in Goa has an absolute majority. The Congress is frustrated because the party is being wiped out of India, therefore they are making wild allegations. BJP, Goa Forward, MGP Independents, all included we have 23 MLAs. They have 16, they should know how many of the 16 are actually with them,” Tanavade also said, accusing the Congress central leadership of being not on the ball during the Government formation process in Goa in March last year.

“When election results were announced (in March 2017), the BJP staked claim to form the Government before the Congress did. They were sleeping. They did not even have a leader. (AICC secretary) Chella Kumar and Digvijaya SIngh were sleeping in a hotel. Who asked them to sleep in a hotel,” he said, even egging the Congress to “fly down” Rahul Gandhi to plead the party’s case with the Governor.

Writer: Mayabhushan

Courtesy: The Pioneer

The Congress today decided to stake claim to form government in Goa where it had emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly polls held last year. Chandrakant Kavlekar, Congress Legislature Party chief, said the party will stake claim by submitting a formal letter to Governor Mridula Sinha containing signatures of all the 16 party MLAs.

The BJP has, however, dismissed the Congress’ demand, as a result of frustration at being wiped out of the country’s political map, with the State Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Sadanand Shet Tanavade even urging the Congress to bring its president Rahul Gandhi to Goa, to try and wrest the Government from the ruling BJP-led coalition alliance.

Earlier on Thursday, hours after Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala swore in senior BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa as Chief Minister, State Congress president Girish Chodankar in a missive to the Governor insisted that the Congress be invited to form power in Goa because “it is the single largest party” in the State, as far as legislative strength is concerned.

“We are requesting Her Excellency to follow big brother Karnataka Governor and invite the Congress to form the Goa Government to recitfy a wrong,” Congress State President Girish Chodankar told The Pioneer.

“If the Karnataka Governor can invite the Bharatiya Janata Party, the single largest party to form the Government, why can’t the Goa Governor invite the Congress, the single largest party in Goa, to form the Government here? Why two critieria for two States? Why double standards?” he also said, adding that the Congress had formally sought time from Sinha to state their case. The BJP in its reaction has said that the Congress was merely acting out of frustration.

“The BJP is ruling in Goa with the help of alliance. What is the point of crying now? Let them cry. They have realised now that no one is accepting them in the entire country. In Karnataka too, their seat share has shrunk and they do not have a Government anywhere,” Tanavade told The Pioneer.

“BJP alliance in Goa has an absolute majority. The Congress is frustrated because the party is being wiped out of India, therefore they are making wild allegations. BJP, Goa Forward, MGP Independents, all included we have 23 MLAs. They have 16, they should know how many of the 16 are actually with them,” Tanavade also said, accusing the Congress central leadership of being not on the ball during the Government formation process in Goa in March last year.

“When election results were announced (in March 2017), the BJP staked claim to form the Government before the Congress did. They were sleeping. They did not even have a leader. (AICC secretary) Chella Kumar and Digvijaya SIngh were sleeping in a hotel. Who asked them to sleep in a hotel,” he said, even egging the Congress to “fly down” Rahul Gandhi to plead the party’s case with the Governor.

Writer: Mayabhushan

Courtesy: The Pioneer