SC orders Goa Assembly floor test for Thursday, Congress hails decision

Goa Chief Minister-designate Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said he will comment on the Supreme Court's order on a floor test after jis swearing-in ceremony in the evening, even as the Congress party termed the court order "a great victory".

"I will comment after the swearing-in," Parrikar told reporters in Panaji, when asked to comment on the apex court's decision to organize a floor test of his government on Thursday. Parrikar resigned as Defence Minister on Monday to take over the reins of a BJP-led government in Goa.

Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh called the Supreme Court's order a "great victory for the Congress".

The Congress had petitioned the apex court late on Monday alleging that Goa Governor Mridula Sinha had acted unilaterally and invited BJP to form a government in Goa, despite the fact that the Congress had emerged as the single largest party in the February 4 state assembly election with 17 seats.

The apex court did not stay the swearing in ceremony, but directed that a floor test be held on Thursday.