Goa: SC refuses to stay Parrikar's swearing-in, orders floor test on March 16

New Delhi [India], Mar. 14 (ANI): The Supreme Court today refused to stay the swearing-in of former defence minister Manohar Parrikar as the Goa Chief Minister and ordered a floor test in the state assembly on March 16 at 11 a.m. Parrikar's swearing-in ceremony will go as per schedule today. The apex court has directed that all pre-requisites for holding the floor test should be completed by tomorrow including what is required by the Election Commission. To accomodate this, the court ordered the Governor to summon the House tomorrow at 11 a.m. This development came after the Congress moved the apex court challenging the scheduled swearing-in of Parrikar. During the hearing, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Congress, alleged that the BJP was indulging in horse-trading and violating the established constitutional practices. He asserted that the Congress was not even consulted once on the formation of next government in the state. The Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) J.S. Khehar, observed that numbers should determine the single largest party in the state. The apex court further told the Congress that it should have gone to Goa Governor Mridula Sinha rather than raising the matter before the judiciary. Senior advocate Harish Salve represented the Central Government during the hearing in the apex court, which ordered a floor test. Governor Sinha had invited Parrikar to form the next government in the coastal state after he submitted a letter of support of 21 legislators. Three MLAs of the Goa Forward Party, three of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and two Independents have pledged their support to Parrikar. The BJP, which won 13 seats in the 40-member Goa Assembly, managed to garner support from other parties and Independents to attain majority under Parrikar. The Congress won 17 seats in the recently concluded polls. (ANI)