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Manohar Parrikar may head
BJP government in Goa

The process of destabilising the 11-month-old coalition government led by Francisco Sardinha in Goa took off, with Opposition leader Ravi Naik splitting from the Congress to join the Bharatiya Janata Party, a partner in the ruling coalition.

On the other hand, another Congress splinter group of five led by Shaikh Hassan, which had split on August 15, to support the coalition government, has merged with the BJP.

"Soon after getting approval from our central leadership, we will formally withdraw support to the government and stake claim to form an alternative government," said Manohar Parrikar, tipped to be the chief minister of Goa's first BJP government.

Sardinha is returning from Australia on Sunday.

His government will now be reduced to a minority, with only 11 members belonging to his Goa People's Congress in the 40-member House.

While Governor Mohammad Fazal is also flying down from Delhi Sunday, activity may gain momentum only thereafter, depending on whether Sardinha steps down or prefers to go for a floor test to prove his majority.

The strength of the BJP, which had come to power for the first time despite having only 10 members in the House, will now rise to 19, after roping in nine Congressmen into the saffron camp, including a Muslim and two Christian leaders.

"We have responded to a call by BJP chief Bangaru Laxman to minorities. Let us see whether they are really secular," said Shaikh, a staunch Congressman for two decades.

Besides former ministers Prakash Velip and Suresh Parulekar, his group comprises two Christian legislators - Jose Philip D'Souza and Philip Neri Rodrigues. Except for Parulekar, the others are likely to be included in the cabinet.

Naik claims that he split from the Congress to provide stability in the state, with a one-party government rather than continuing with toppling games continuously. Former Union law minister Ramakant Khalap has also joined the BJP camp.

Goa has become a hot seat for frequent toppling since 1990.

In fact, Parrikar will be the 13th chief minister in a decade and the third in 16 months, after the fresh assembly polls in June last year.

The BJP government however also need not be stable since it will run with support from the two-member Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and an Independent.

MGP leader Pandurang Raut confirmed that he would participate in the government as a minister, though the party would support it from outside.

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