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Yet another government in
Goa on the verge of collapse

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

The 11-month-old coalition government in Goa led by Chief Minister Francisco Sardinha is on the verge of collapse. One of its main constituents - the Bharatiya Janata Party - has put in motion an ambitious plan to form a government on its own in the tiny coastal state.

Sardinha is away in Australia.

Confirming moves in this direction, BJP leader Manohar Parrikar said a final decision would be taken only after seeking a formal approval from the central leadership.

The 40-member House has 10 members of the BJP.

Parrikar said he has received feelers from several parties. However, he added that this time his party is not in favour of a coalition government. "There is no question of a coalition government this time. Either it will be a BJP government or we will sit in the opposition," said Parrikar.

Sardinha came to power in November last at the head of a multi-party group comprising 10 Congress rebels and as many BJP legislators. He toppled the six-month-old Congress government led by Luizinho Faleiro.

A fews months later, another group of Congress legislators, led this time by by Shaikh Hassan, split from the party.

Unconfirmed reports state that besides four members of the Shaikh group, another four Congress legislators led by former chief minister Ravi Naik are planning to join the BJP.

Some other Congressmen, including former union minister Ramakant Khalap, former minister Sanjay Bandekar and first-time MLA Babu Azgaonkar, are also on the verge of switching over to the BJP.

This will reduce the opposition Congress to only six, though it came to power after June elections with absolute majority.

The new entrants would swell the BJP's strength to 18 and efforts are on to rope in at least three more legislators from other parties.

Sardinha's three cabinet colleagues from the Goan People's Congress group are away in Australia, the USA and China.

Governor Mohammad Fazal is in Delhi.

Parrikar cited Mayem village as the prime reason for parting company with Sardinha. The village was declared "evacuee property" after the Portuguese left Goa.

While the BJP is in favour of handing over the land to local villagers under the Tenancy Act, Sardinha is supporting a certain Antonio Pereira, who claims to be the legal heir of the evacuee family.

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