Goa political crisis blows over for now

The decision was announced by Nationalist Congress Party leader and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel after a late night meeting in Mumbai on Sunday with Kamat, All India Congress Committee general secretary B K Hari Prasad and others.

Patel said the Nationalist Congress Party did not want to precipitate a financial crisis in Goa and the contentious issues would be sorted out in a March 31 co-ordination committee meet.

A group of seven legislators, including three from the Nationalist Congress Party — whose support is crucial for Kamat’s survival — had threatened to stay away from voting on the financial bill in the ongoing state budget session.

The Congress which has 18 members in a House of 40 is supported by 3 Nationalist Congress Party members, 2 MGP and 2 independents.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party with 14 MLAs has found it tough to make up the numbers for an alternative government despite the constant friction between the Congress and its allies.