Will Luizinho resignation pave way for Parrikar toppling?

But will this pave way to topple the existing BJP-led government with Manohar Parrikar’s coalition partners aligning with the Congress? Because that was the reported assurance of Goa Forward to replace Faleiro with a new PCC president.

Around a month ago, Babush Monseratte had taken initiative in getting power-hungry Congress MLAs together at his Taleigao residence to topple the Parrikar-led government.

There was a strong rumour that Goa Forward leader and minister Vijai Sardesai has hatched this conspiracy with Babush, provided Vijai is made the chief minister. And the condition was that Faleiro should be removed as the PCC president.

Accordingly, Faleiro has resigned now once again and Shantaram Naik may be appointed in his place, to form the alternate government.

Faleiro doesn’t want to speak on this new political conspiracy. But he says it is the right of the Congress to form the government in Goa since it is the single largest party.

But is it that easy to topple the Parrikar-led government? What’s the position of the Assembly today?

With health minister Vishwajeet Rane and BJP’s former Panaji MLA Siddharth  Kunkolkar  resigning as MLAs, the strength of the House is 38. You require 20 MLAs on your side to form the government.

Today’s coalition government consists of 12 MLAs from the BJP, 3 from Goa Forward, 3 from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and 3 Independents. That makes 21.

Besides Goa Forward and MGP, two independents – Rohan Khaunte and Govind Gaude are the ministers.

Parrikar Government

BJP                         12

GF                          3

MGP                      3

IND                        3

TOTAL                   21

While Parrikar has to accommodate too many people to keep his government stable, the new combination of Congress and others is much more easy.

It can simply form the government with 16 from the Congress, 3 from Goa Forward and 3 Independents. This itself makes it 22.

They neither require the MGP nor lone NCP man Churchill Alemao.

It is learnt that Babush is planning to be part of the government and contest from Panaji, to defeat Parrikar in the by-election.

ALTERNATE GOVT

CONG                   16

GF                          3

IND                        3

TOTAL                   22

Though there is a strong buzz about this new alternative, it would all depend on how Parrikar and BJP national president Amit Shah play their cards and also how Congress high command reacts to the new combination.