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Journalism of Courage
PANAJI, Feb 6: Growing public support for early elections to the Goa Legislative Assembly and the absence of a workable majority to either Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro or his rival Wilfred D’Souza is likely to cause the dissolution of the Goa House next week.
With the D’Souza camp moving all its members out of the state prior to the Chief Minister’s trust vote on Monday, Faleiro has been reduced to a minority with just 19 members in a House of 40. The CM however told the media here today that he was confident of winning the trust vote and would recommend dissolution of the House there after.
His rival, former chief minister Wilfred D’Souza, however did not rule out his claim for the top job. “The next step is to defeat Luizinho, then we will decide,” he told the press.
D’Souza also alleged threat to the safety of his supporters and demanded police protection to them till Monday. He told the media that some unidentified persons sporting long hair and wearing black were tailinghim.Meanwhile, Faleiro filed a petition late on Friday before the Speaker praying for the disqualification of former social welfare minister Deu Mandrekar who has pledged support to D’Souza. In a notice published on Friday, Mandrekar was asked to attend a Congress Legislative Party meeting or face disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
However, rival politicians insist that merely missing a CLP meeting does not invite disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.The political uncertainty today was further worsened with the BJP leadership in New Delhi reportedly deciding not to support Wilfred D’Souza-led government. This, say political observers, could pave the way for President’s rule in the state.
