Ousted Bharatiya Janata Party chief minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar on Monday hoped that the process of confidence motion in the Goa assembly will be 'expedited' in view of the Supreme Court's notice to Chief Minister Pratap Singh Rane and the state government.
"The Supreme Court's decision has definitely vindicated my stand. I am satisfied. They (the Congress-led government) are obviously trying to delay it (seeking confidence of the House) as they are scared because the majority is in our favour," Parrikar said.
The notices were issued on a petition filed by Parrikar challenging his government's dismissal by Governor S C Jamir.
"The matter comes up for hearing again next Monday. The court has asked me to file an affidavit in case the present government takes up any policy decision. This effectively means that till such a time that Rane government wins the vote of confidence it cannot take major decisions. I am happy with the court's directive."
On the confidence motion he said, "If Pratap Singh Rane had the majority on his side then he would have summoned the house on the first given opportunity. He is instead waiting till the end of the month to do so," Parrikar said.
He said his party is ready to face the electorate should the need arise.
Talking to newspersons at Goa Sadan in New Delhi, Parrikar denied reports that the BJP's state unit had taken its members of Legislative Assembly on a tour to Rajasthan to ward off attempts by the Congress to poach them.
"This is not true. Some of our party MLAs are still in Goa and some of them will be returning to Panaji very soon. By the next two days all party MLAs will be in the state capital and will remain there till the House takes up the confidence motion."
The motion will be taken up on February 28.
Asked if he had dropped the plan to take BJP MLAs for a headcount before President A P J Abdul Kalam, Parrikar said he would wait for the trial of strength on the floor of the House and then decide on taking them to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
With PTI inputs
