Parrikar sails through floor trust, Congress MLA quits

The Manohar Parrikar government on Thursday proved its majority on the floor of the Goa Assembly by winning the trust vote with the support of 22 legislators in the 40-member house.

The Congress, the single largest party with 17 MLAs, suffered a jolt as its legislator Viswajit Rane resigned the membership of the assembly, after refusing to vote against the trust motion defying the party whip.

Viswajit, son of Congress veteran and former chief minister Pratap Sinh Rane, said he was also quitting the party.

While Viswajit was elected from Valpoi his father won from Poriem. The Congress, which failed in the number game and accused the BJP of horse-trading and other unfair means to retain power in the state, could mobilise only 16 votes against the government.

After winning the vote, a jubilant Parrikar said the Congress never had the numbers on its side.

He said the Congress created the hype over the BJP's bid to form the government because there was a demand for Digvijay Singh to step down as AICC general secretary in charge of the state.

"We have proved to the people of India that we have the support of 23 on the floor of the House debunking Digvijay's claim that we don't have the numbers," he told mediapersons.

"It happens when you come to Goa only to enjoy, not to work," he quipped. The 61-year-old chief minister proved his majority with 12 legislators from the BJP, three from the GFP, three from the MGP, three Independents and one from the NCP supporting the trust motion.