SC orders floor test in Goa on March 16; Cong alleges BJP of horse trading to reach majority nark

With the support of of regional outfits and Independents, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday is scheduled to be sworn in as the Goa Chief Minister.

Panaji: The BJP on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to not stay the swearing-in of Manohar Parrikar as Goa Chief Minister, and claimed it will be able to prove majority on the floor of the House. 

"We have the numbers to form the government. We have more than 21 MLAs with us with the support of alliance partners," Goa BJP unit General Secretary Sadanand Tanawade told reporters. 

He said the Goa Forward Party, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and two independents have supported the BJP to form the government led by Parrikar. 

BJP with the support of regional outfits and Independents has staked claim to form the government in Goa.

Latest updates:

- Congress' AM Singhvi says swearing in is a ministerial act, is of no constitutional significance. Will be nullified in a floor test in 48 hours. So if you want to be a 'do din ka sultan' then you are welcome to do so

- I agree the mandate is fractured, but with 22 MLAs together the vote share is more than sufficient. Its post-poll alliance: Manohar Parrikar

- If you had the support then why did you not go to the Governor? The support extended to BJP to form govt in Goa is only for Goa's development. No MLA wanted to support Congress: Manohar Parrikar

- MGP's Manohar Ajgaonkar and Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte take oath as ministers in Goa government

- Manohar Parrikar takes oath as Goa Chief Minister in Panaji

- Congress neither elected a leader nor made a claim in front of the Governor. I think Supreme Court has given the right order, BJP is fully confident of getting majority. It is a big responsibility, I will start from where Manohar Parrikar Ji left: Arun Jaitley on Goa govt formation tussle

- The allegations of BJP using financial power (by Congress party) are baseless, says Home Minister Rajnath Singh: ANI

- So we have told all like-minded MLAs and parties that we are ready to sacrifice. Please join us: Congress' Luizinho Faleiro

- Sonia Gandhi is a rare example of sacrifice in the democratic world. She had a chance to be the Prime Minister twice but she chose Dr Manmohan Singh: Congress' Luizinho Faleiro

- The Congress Party complains a bit too much. It accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of 'stealing' the mandate in Goa. It unsuccessfully petitioned before the Supreme Court. It attempted to raise issues in the Lok Sabha. What are the facts?: Arun Jaitley

- The BJP managed to form an alliance and presented to the Governor 21 out of 40 MLAs. They appeared before the Governor in person and submitted a letter of support. The Congress did not even submit a claim to the Governor. It had only the support of 17 MLAs: Arun Jaitley

- The Congress Party protested at the Governor’s decision to invite Mr  Manohar Parrikar to form the Government with support of 21 out of 40 MLAs and described it as ‘a murder of democracy: Jaitley in FB post

- The Assembly Elections in Goa produced an inconclusive verdict. There was a Hung Assembly. Obviously in a Hung Assembly post-poll alliances will be formed: Arun Jaitley in Facebook post

- We wrote to the Goa Governor on 12th of March. We came to the office but we were told as its a holiday, the office is closed, says Congress's L Falerio: ANI

We wrote to her(Goa Governor) on 12th, we came to the office, but was told as its a holiday its closed: L Falerio,Congress pic.twitter.com/87Ojx7eSFw — ANI (@ANI_news) March 14, 2017

- Goa: Congress MLAs led by senior leader Digvijay Singh reach Governor House in Panaji

Goa: Congress MLAs led by senior leader Digvijay Singh reach Governor House in Panaji pic.twitter.com/r6W6dTV0w3 — ANI (@ANI_news) March 14, 2017

- BJP misusing money for power, says Rahul Gandhi on saffron party staking claim to form governments in Goa and Manipur

- Supreme Court says Congress has failed to come out with affidavits of MGP and Goa Forward Party MLAs indicating support to it: PTI

- Refusing to comment anything on SC order, BJP's CM candidate Manohar Parrikar says, "I will give reaction after swearing-in."

- Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi says our fight is against BJP's ideology, what they did in Manipur and Goa is exactly the ideology we are fighting against.

- BJP leader Nitin Gadkari refutes Congress' allegations, saying there was no horse-trading in Goa.

Congress was not able to choose a leader due to their internal tussle and they are blaming us for it, Gadkari quips.

- Manohar Parrikar's swearing-in ceremony to be held today.

- Apex Court orders floor test to be held in Goa Assembly on March 16.

-Supreme Court orders floor test in Goa, reports ANI.

- Senior lawyer Harish Salve is representing Central government, Abhishek Singhvi is representing Congress in the apex court.

- While hearing Congress' petition Supreme Court asks Congress where are the numbers?

- SC asks Congress why didn't they approach the Goa Governor on the issue of government formation.

- During the hearing, the bench headed by CJI Khehar observes that numbers should determine the single largest party.

- Goa Governor Mridula Sinha to meet Congress leaders at 1:30 pm.

- Hearing on Congress' petition challenging anointment of Manohar Parrikar as Goa CM begins in Supreme Court.

- Congress leader Digvijaya Singh says Governor has to act under Constitution adding that the single largest party must be called to form the government in Goa.

Earlier developments

The BJP, which failed to cross the half-way mark in the assembly polls with its tally dipping to 13 from 21, pulled off a coup on Sunday by enlisting the support of the Goa Forward Party (GFP), Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and two Independents, to reach the magic figure of 21 in the 40-member house.

The Congress is expected to meet Governor Mridula Sinha today, demanding that the Congress be granted an opportunity to form a government, because it has emerged as the single largest party in the February 4 elections with 17 MLAs.

In the national capital, the Supreme Court is also scheduled to hear a petition by Congress legislative party leader Chandrakant Kavlekar, who has challenged Sinha`s decision to unilaterally invite Parrikar to form a government.

The BJP stole a march on the Congress which failed to muster the numbers despite emerging as the single-largest party with 17 seats.

The Congress was hoping to get the support of the GFP which has bagged three seats in its maiden bid at the hustings.hustings.

But by deft moves, coordinated by party veteran and Union minister Nitin Gadkari, the BJP succeeded in keeping the Congress at bay, winning over smaller parties and Independents, who were keen that Parrikar should lead the ministry.

AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh has already accepted the blame for the party`s inability to stake claim to form a government on Monday.Digvijaya Singh has already accepted the blame for the party`s inability to stake claim to form a government on Monday.

Critcising the BJP's moves, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Monday said in a tweet: "The Prime Minister says that they would become more humble after victory. Abduction of an MLA in Manipur and haggling for power in Goa! We bow to Modiji's humbleness."

In another tweet, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram said that a party that comes second has no right to form the government.

"BJP is stealing elections in Goa and Manipur," Chidmabarm said.