By IANS
New Delhi : With the 49-day-old Congress government on the brink of collapse in Goa, the blame game began Friday with some party leaders blaming their national leadership and others accusing the opposition of attempting a "backdoor entry" to power.
Congress party leaders here, however, are confident of proving a majority in the assembly where the state government is likely to face a floor test Monday.
The party has started backroom discussions to save the Digambar Kamat-led government that became a minority after the two-member Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) withdrew support. Soon after, the lone woman Congress legislator, Victoria Fernandes, quit the 40-member assembly.
A section of Congress leaders said that before the June election, the party's state unit had opposed the national leadership's move to give ticket to Fernandes.
"It was at (Congress general secretary) Margaret Alva's insistence that the ticket was given to Fernandes despite strong objections from the state unit," said a leader.
He alleged that Alva had not been aware of ground realities in the state.
Another party leader said: "The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) is trying to engineer a mandate through the backdoor.
"The BJP is trying to compensate for its downslide before the public, especially after its candidate's defeat in the presidential election," he said referring to Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. "But we will prove majority on Monday."
Meanwhile, both the BJP-led Goa Democratic Alliance (GDA) and the Congress have sought appointments with Governor S.C. Jamir, claiming majority in the 40-member assembly.
Jamir, who is in the national capital, is expected to return to Panaji by Friday evening.
The BJP-led GDA that now includes the MGP, Save Goa Front and United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) claims the support of 20 legislators while the Congress has 19 MLAs backing it.
The speaker has not yet accepted Fernandes' resignation.
Elections were held to the Goa assembly June 2. The Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) combine got 19 seats. Smaller parties and independents played kingmakers, taking the strength to 22. Businessman-realtor Kamat, 53, became chief minister June 8. The BJP had got 14 seats in the 40-member assembly.
Goa, a former Portuguese colony, has had 13 chief ministers and three stints of President's Rule since 1990 compared to three chief ministers between 1963 and 1990.