Former chief minister Pratapsingh Rane, the Congress-NCP nominee, was unanimously elected Speaker of the Goa assembly on Friday after the BJP withdrew both its candidates.

It became obvious that the BJP stood little chance of upsetting the ruling coalition’s calculations on the speaker’s election when the Save Goa Front and the UGDP pledged support to the Congress candidate.

Disputing BJP leader Manohar Parrikar’s claims that the government would still have to prove its majority on the floor of the house, Chief Minister Digamber Kamat told Deccan Herald that Mr Rane’s smooth election proved “the Congress is firmly in the saddle”.

We’re in control: Cong

“Clear proof of our majority has been given to the Governor with letters of support from our allies. If this is not proof, then what is?” Mr Kamat argued, emphasising that the coalition has 23 members on its side.

Though the BJP has only 14 members to the Congress-NCP’s 19, Mr Parrikar said he would not hesitate to destabilise the government if the opportunity presented itself.

“If the Congress fails, then we will step in to form the government,” he said. Even during the election, the BJP strategised on fragmenting the Congress by sponsoring the Save Goa Front and the UGDP, rather than contesting all the seats on its own or in an alliance.

Mr Kamat described the BJP strategy as “negative” and said Mr Parrikar should learn to be a little more “sporting” politically.