Panaji (Goa): Continuing the blame-game over its failure for government formation despite having  the majority, the Congress Party has now accused Goa Governor Dr Mridula Sinha for failing to act ‘judiciously’ in the entire episode of State Government formation.

“We emerged as the single largest party and still continue to be if you go by law. And as per rule, the leader of single largest party should have been invited by the Governor to stake claim for government,” All India Congress Committee (AICC) Goa secretary Amit Deshmukh told media persons.

“Many State governments in the Country are made like that but unfortunately all that was not followed in Goa,” he added.

“That is our grouse that Governor did not call us to form government. It was for the Governor to act judiciously,” the Maharashtra MLA commented.

Deshmukh termed the BJP-led coalition government in Goa as ‘undemocratic’.

“This government in Goa is undemocratic. They don’t have the mandate and the way they have come to power is kind of power grabbing. The democracy is bulldozed,” he commented further.

During the February 4 elections, Congress won 17 out of 38 assembly seats it constituted (currently left with 16), while BJP managed to gain 13 while the rest ten seats were shared amongst MGP (3), Goa Forward (3) and Independents (4).

Despite emerging as single largest party, it failed to form the government. BJP along with nine other regional party MLAs and Independents formed the government under Manohar Parrikar.

Congress party had earlier accused Parrikar and BJP national leader Nitin Gadkari of ‘robbing’ people’s mandate. The BJP on the other hand had countered Congress claiming ‘their leaders were busy holidaying in Goa’.

Stating that the act of ‘bulldozing’ is ‘harming the essence of democracy’, AICC leader alleged that with NDA government in power, such things are bound to happen. “It is very autocratic way of regime or rule of NDA. There is complete misuse of power to stall people’s mandate,” he said.

Team TNV