Congress to stake claim to form government in Goa

Panaji, March 17 (IANS) With the BJP strength in the Goa Assembly down to 12 MLAs after the death of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday, the Congress is likely to stake claim to form the government in the coastal state, a senior party leader said."There is no cabinet in place now. We are going to demand the Governor to invite the Congress party to form a government because we are the single largest party in the Assembly with 14 MLAs," the leader told IANS on condition of anonymity.Congress secretary in-charge of Goa A. Chellakumar is expected to arrive here on Sunday night to take charge of his party's bid to form the government.The strength of the 40-member state Assembly was reduced to 38 last year, after two Congress lawmakers quit the party to join the BJP. It slipped to 37 last month following the death of BJP legislator Francis D'Souza.
--IANS maya/rtp/vd