The Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) on Monday demanded that Goa Governor Mridula Sinha be shifted out of the State for allegedly violating the spirit of the Constitution by allowing the BJP to cobble up a majority despite not being the single largest party in the Assembly elections.
At a press conference, GSM president Anand Shirodkar questioned the hurried manner in which Ms. Sinha invited Manohar Parrikar to form the government after he produced a letter of support of 21 MLAs. Mr. Shirodkar said, “The ex-Defence Minister has flouted the spirit of parliamentary democracy by reportedly indulging in horse trading.’’ Mr. Shirdokar also accused the Governor of indulging in double standards.
GSM senior leader Arvind Bhatikar said, “We do not want such a Governor, shift her wherever you want.” Party mentor Subhash Velingkar said, “It was the duty of the Governor as guardian of constitutional norms to give first priority to the single largest party (Congress).”
Mr. Shirodkar alleged that smaller regional parties and independent MLAs had betrayed their voters by supporting a party which they had opposed during the elections. He urged the people of Goa not only to protest against this violation of the Constitution by the Governor but also to write to her about their displeasure over the decision. The BJP could win only 13 seats in the 40 member House.
Mr. Velingkar was harsh on the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), which had aligned with the GSM and the Shiv Sena, and was instrumental in defeating the BJP in the election, but overnight joined hands with the party to help form the government.
“We feel that people must get a right to recall such elected representatives. We will work to generate awareness among people so that they question such MLAs about their opportunistic actions. They have twisted the public mandate by allowing the BJP to come to power when it was confined to the Opposition benches by the people,” said Mr. Shirodkar.
‘’The GSM calls upon their voters to force their elected representatives to withdraw their support to the BJP immediately,’’ he said. The party had contested five seats in alliance with the MGP and the Shiv Sena in the State Assembly elections. However, it could not win even a single seat.
