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Faleiro govt reduced to minority as 11 MLAs quit Cong

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

The four-month-old Luizinho Faleiro government lost its majority today when 11 legislators, including four ministers, under the leadership of Health Minister Francisco Sardinha, split the ruling Congress party.

Those who quit the ruling party includes deputy speaker Alexio Sequeira, who has resigned from the post. Other three ministers, apart from Sardinha, who have put in their papers are Dayanand Narvekar, Somnath Zuwarkar and Subhash Shirodkar.

According to Raj Bhavan sources, four dissident ministers - Sardinha, Somnath Zuarkar, Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Narvekar - met Governor Lt Gen J F R Jacob soon after he returned from Delhi.

Speaker Pratapsinh Rane also confirmed that he had received a letter from Sardinha signed by eleven legislators.

While exact details regarding the split in the CLP were not available, sources said that the ten-member BJP group in the 40-member Goa Assembly had pledged support to form a new government under the leadership of Sardinha.

Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro said that he was not in a position offer any comment.

The Congress had won by a clear majority in the recently concluded assembly elections in the state by winning 21 of the total 40 seats.

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