New Delhi: Newly appointed Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who heads a BJP-led coalition government in the state, passed the floor test in the state legislative assembly on Wednesday with the support of 20 MLAs.
In the 36-member state legislative assembly, 20 MLAs- 11 from BJP, 3 from MGP (Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party), 3 Goa Forward and 3 independents, voted in his favour.
14 Congress MLAs and 1 NCP (Churchill) voted against him. For a simple majority in the 36-member House, 19 votes are required.
Pramod Sawant was appointed to the post after the demise of Goa CM Manohar Parrikar after a long battle with cancer. Sawant was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Goa just before 2 am on Tuesday, capping a day of hectic parleys between BJP and its allies to put a new government in place in the state.
Hours after being sworn in, Sawant said on Tuesday that his government has sought a floor test on Wednesday to prove its strength in the Assembly.
The BJP-led government in the coastal state claims support of 21 MLAs - 12 from the BJP, three each of allies Goa Forward Party (GFP) and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and three Independents.
The Congress has 14 MLAs in the 36-member Assembly. One independent MLA Prasad Gaonkar was seen in both the BJP as well as Congress camps on Monday and has not clarified as to whether he supports the treasury or opposition benches.
The strength of the 40-member House has been reduced to 36 due to the death of chief minister Manohar Parrikar, BJP MLA Francis D'Souza and resignations of two Congress MLAs Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte.
While addressing mediapersons on Tuesday, Sawant had said that he was "100 per cent confident" of winning the floor test.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant wins crucial floor test with 20 votes
ABP News Bureau
Updated at:
20 Mar 2019 01:26 PM (IST)
While addressing mediapersons on Tuesday, Sawant had said that he was "100 per cent confident" of winning the floor test.
Pramod Sawant. Photo: Facebook
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