Setback for Congress in Goa and Manipur

Jaitley said there were several precedents that supported the decision of the governor. He said in view of the claims of 21 legislators led by Parrikar, the governor could not have invited the minority grouping — of 17 legislators of the Congress — to form a government. 

In the Goa Assembly polls, the BJP won 13 seats and the Congress 17 in a House of 40. The BJP staked claim to form the government on the basis of support from eight other members of the legislative assembly (MLAs). Governor Sinha invited Parrikar to form the government after he produced a letter of support of the 21 MLAs.

In Panaji, the newly elected Congress legislators met Governor Sinha and argued they be given an opportunity to form the government. 

In New Delhi, the Congress vice-president told reporters that in Manipur and Goa, the two states where the Congress won, “democracy has been undermined by them (BJP) using financial power, money.”

Jaitley countered that the Congress didn’t even stake claim in Goa, how then could it be invited to form the government with 17 legislators.

In the Supreme Court, senior counsel for BJP Harish Salve argued that the Goa governor was convinced that Parrikar had the support of three Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party legislators and three from the Goa Forward Party. In addition, there were two Independents supporting the BJP. 

Therefore, the BJP had 21 legislators, forming a majority in the House. The governor had announced a floor test within 15 days. The Supreme Court judges observed the Congress should have “run” to the governor immediately after the results were declared. They also remarked that the Congress has not based its pleadings with hard evidence on the number of legislators supporting it. 

In Imphal, four Naga People’s Front (NPF) legislators met Governor Najma Heptulla and extended their support to the BJP. The NPF is a constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. Earlier, four National People’s Party legislators had extended their support to the BJP. The BJP has claimed the support of 32 MLAs, including its 21, in the 60-member Assembly. A BJP delegation had met the governor on Sunday with 21 MLAs, four NPP MLAs, one MLA each from LJP and TMC and a Congress MLA. The Congress won 28 seats in Manipur, emerging as the single largest party.