Goa govt in crisis, NCP MLAs quit

Goa: The Congress government in Goa plunged into deep crisis late on Wednesday night after NCP MLAs withdrew support.

Earlier in the day, Assembly Speaker Pratapsingh Rane adjourned the house till Thursday following the crisis.

Some ministers along with a few Congress legislators, reportedly unhappy with the government, expressed their unhappiness with the way Finance Minister Dayanand Narvekar was functioning.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, however, ruled out that there was any threat to his government.

Meanwhile, the Opposition fuelled speculation that the government was not steady. Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar said, "Government is trying to escape vote in the house. Government has lost majority and I am not part of any toppling game."

The Assembly has a strength of 40 out of which the ruling coalition has 23 members - Congress(16), NCP(three), Save Goa Front (two) and Independents (two).

United Goans Democratic party's unattached legislator Atanasio Monserratte gives issue based support to the government. The opposition has 16 members with BJP(14) and MGP (two).

The revolt apparently stemmed from growing opposition to Narvekar's policies particulalry on the Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

With the numbers game in the Assembly becoming crucial, a group of ministers including Health minister Vishwajeet Rane, Atanasio Monserratte and Save Goa Front legislator Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco are understood to have come together to test the Digambar Kamat government on the floor of the House.

The state government, which has cancelled SEZs in the state, is facing heat over the proposed Rajiv Gandhi IT habitat.

Narvekar, who is also IT minister, is supporting the park, which is opposed by Monserratte.

Senior Congress leader and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister PR Dasmunsi is currently in Goa for a football event and is reportedly working on steps to defuse the crisis.

Sources said BJP may support the breakaway group to form an alternative government, if the Chief Minister is defeated on the floor of the house.

(With inputs from PTI)