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BJP high command gives green signal to Goa unit

"The central leadership has given green signal to go ahead," senior party leaders confirmed on Sunday.

Former chief minister Ravi Naik, who joined the BJP along with three other legislators after breaking away from the Congress, said that all the 18 legislators of the BJP met on Saturday and formally elected Manohar Parrikar as their leader.

Besides Naik, those who joined the BJP are - former Union minister Ramakant Khalap, former minister Sanjay Bandekar and Manohar Azagaonkar.

Parrikar and other party leaders are expected to call on Governor Mohammad Fazal later in the day to intimate him of the decision to withdraw their support to the 11-month-old Francisco Sardinha ministry and to stake claim to form a government.

After the BJP mustered 18 legislators in the 40-member assembly, Parrikar had claimed support of two Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party members and an independent.

Naik expressed confidence that the decision of eight legislators, who had left the Congress to join the BJP, would help ensure greater political stability. He felt that a single party rule would be in the larger interests of the state.

He also hinted at the possibility of others, who have extended their support to the BJP to form a government, also joining the party at a later stage.

Lone member of the Indian National Congress (SH), Suresh Parulekar, has extended support to the BJP to form a government.

Reiterating that the new government would complete its full term, Naik said it would be able to provide good governance and concentrate on the state's development by securing adequate support from the Centre.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Francisco Sardinha, who is away in Australia, is returning to Panjim on Sunday afternoon.

The strategy of his Goa People's Congress, which has a strength of eleven in the assembly, will unfold only after the chief minister discusses the latest political developments with his party colleagues.

In the assembly elections held in June last year, the BJP had won ten seats to become the main opposition in the ninth assembly after the Congress secured an absolute majority and formed a government under the leadership of Luizinho Faleiro.

Following is the party position in the 40-member Goa legislative assembly.
Bharatiya Janata Party 18
Goa People's Congress 11
Indian National Congress 05
Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party 02
Nationalist Congress Party 01
Iindian National Congress (SH) 01
Independent 01
Speaker
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Total 40

UNI

EARLIER REPORT
BJP to stake claim to power in Goa

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