End poaching or House will go: Jamir to BJP

Goa Governor S.C. Jamir today threatened to dissolve the Assembly if the BJP government in the state continues to poach on Opposition MLAs.I...

Goa Governor S.C. Jamir today threatened to dissolve the Assembly if the BJP government in the state continues to poach on Opposition MLAs.

In an exclusive interview to The Indian Express, amid celebration in the ruling circles of completing four years in power, Jamir said: ‘‘I have strong opinions on political horsetrading and will not tolerate such moves and will then have to dissolve the house.’’

Rumours of two more Congress MLAs on the verge of resigning and contesting as BJP candidates in the by-elections had been fuelled by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s statements before the media. However, the chief minister today said he had not spoken of two Congress MLAs willing to quit their party. He said he would think of it only if Congress rebels contacted him. ‘‘However, I can’t assure them of BJP tickets,’’ he said.

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Jamir said the chief minister had been warned. ‘‘I have specifically told the CM not to make a mockery of democracy and had warned him that if he continues the unholy politics as seen in Poingunim (where a Congress MLA resigned amidst allegations of financial incentives provided by the ruling party), I will certainly dissolve the house.’’

So far, three Opposition MLAs have joined the ruling party.

Parrikar, Jamir said, had said he was unaware of the poaching. ‘‘How can the CM be ignorant of this?’’ Jamir said.

The legal implication of the Governor’s threat involves invoking Article 356 of the Constitution which involves the Bommai judgment. Politically though, it could bring about a re-configuration in the state. ‘‘I have my ways,’’ Jamir said. ‘‘I have constitutional authority to ensure that horsetrading and mockery of democracy does not recur.’’

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The Governor also rubbished doubts raised by a section of the audio-visual media of his continuance in Goa and his imminent transfer to Tamil Nadu, saying he is here to stay. Sources at Raj Bhavan confirmed to The Indian Express that the Governor had spoken to the Union Home Minister Shivraj patil and was assured of his continuance as Governor of Goa.