Orders floor test on Thursday
AMN /
The Supreme Court has refused to stay the swearing in of Manohar Parrikar as Goa Chief Minister today as the court ordered floor test on Thursday and not after 15 days as ordered by the Goa Governor Mridula Sinha.
The Apex Court directed that all pre-requisites for holding floor test be completed tomorrow including the formalities required by Election Commission. The Apex court requested the Governor to summon the House tomorrow at 11 AM and directed that only business of the House will be the holding of floor test after swearing in of the members.
Supreme Court disposed the Congress Party’s petition, saying all issues raised in it can be resolved by simple direction of holding floor test. The court took on record the Goa Governor’s letter showing support of 3 members of MGP, 3 of GFP and 2 independents to the BJP taking its strength to 21 in House of 40. The Apex court said Congress failed to come out with affidavits of MGP and Goa Forward Party MLAs indicating support to it.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi who was the petitioner, said after the Order that the Supreme Court has intervened in a significant manner. Talking to reporters outside the Apex Court, he said the Governor had given 15 days, and the court has preponed it significantly for logistical reasons. He said Mr. Parrikar now has 48 hours to prove majority in the house, so it’s for BJP to decide if he wants to be Chief Minister for two days.
The BJP has won 13 seats and the Congress has 17 in the house. Goa Forward won 3, MGP won 3 and three were independents. NCP has one seat. The Congress claims it has the numbers.