Cong. alleges ₹1000 cr. horse-trading in Goa

The Congress has accused the BJP of spending ₹1,000 crore to lure non-Congress legislators to form a coalition government in Goa.

Addressing a press conference late on Wednesday evening, AICC secretary Girish Chodankar alleged that the BJP’s general secretary in Goa, Sadanand Shet Tanavde “knew the details of the horse-trading and pay-offs made to MLAs”.

When contacted for his response, Mr. Tanavde told

The Hindu , “This is an outburst of frustration by Mr. Chodankar and his party. The MGP, GFP and independents have all come to BJP on their own.”

He asserted that there was “not a single paisa transaction in this” and added that BJP does not indulge in such horse-trading.

Mr. Chodankar also objected to the appointment of two-time Panaji MLA Sidharth Kunkolienkar as pro-tem Speaker of the Assembly and questioned his neutrality.

“A pro-tem Speaker has to be the senior-most member of the Assembly. Mr. Kunkolienkar has also worked as a political assistant to Manohar Parrikar when he was CM from 2012-2014. How can he be fair as pro-tem Speaker?” asked Mr. Chodankar.

Mr. Parrikar was sworn in as Chief Minister on Tuesday with the backing of 22 MLAs comprising 13 BJP MLAs, three MLAs each from the Goa Forward and MGP and three independent MLAs. He has to prove his majority in the House on Thursday.