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Sardinha to quit ahead of confidence vote

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

Goa chief minister Francisco Sardinha has tendered his resignation.

Following four ministers resigning from the ruling Goan People's Congress and the Congress deciding to abstain from voting, Chief Minister Francisco Sardinha has decided to tender his resignation rather than face the trust vote Tuesday afternoon.

"There is no point in going to the assembly after my own people have deserted me," said Sardinha.

It's almost certain now that a new government led by Manohar Parrikar of the Bharatiya Janata Party would be sworn in by evening.

Tables were turned against Sardinha last night with the six-member Congress Legislature Party (including the speaker) resolving to abstain from the trust vote.

Following this, four of Sardinha's ministers - all from the GPC - put in their papers late last night and formed a separate group in the House.

The 10-member BJP, a coalition partner in the Sardinha-led government, withdrew its support on Sunday, a day after eight Congressmen, comprising two groups, merged into the party.

The GPC, comprising of Venkatesh Desai, Alex Sequeira, Arecio D'Souza and Francis D'Souza, is the third group which has come forward to support Parrikar.

With this, Parrikar now enjoys the support of 26 MLAs in the 40-member House.

While Sardinha's GPC has been reduced to only seven members, only six members now remain with the Congress, the party which was elected to power in June elections with an absolute majority of 21.

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