BJP indulging in horse-trading for govt formation in Goa: Digvijaya Singh

Panaji: Expressing confidence of forming the next government in Goa, Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh on Sunday alleged that a defeated Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was indulging in horse-trading.

"Is this a party of morals? They have been defeated and doing horse-trading. They are promising ministries like distributing sweets," Singh told the media in Panaji.

Asserting that the Congress would stake its claim to form the next government in Goa, Singh said hectic parleys continued throughout the night in this regard.

"We are in touch with the non-BJP MLAs. We are confident we have number on our side," he said.

Singh, who is the Congress' Goa in-charge, yesterday said that the meeting of Congress Legislature Party will elect the leader and the party will stake claim to form the government before the Governor.

He also claimed that the party has received support from former chief minister Churchill Alemao of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

On the other hand, the BJP will require support of about seven more MLAs to form the government.

Senior BJP leaders have already initiated talks with party's estranged partners Maharashtravadi Gomantak Party, Goa Forward Party and Independents.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday said the BJP has the highest vote share of 33 percent though it has won less number of seats and will try to contact the smaller parties and unaligned independents for support.

Admitting that the 'incumbency' factor played one of the roles which prevented the BJP from the securing more seats, Parrikar said, "We don't try to pass on the buck; we all are responsible for the fractured mandate. I also think it's probably the incumbency factor which turned the tide in few constituencies."

"Since there are substantial numbers of small parties being voted, including the independent candidates, we await their response also. We are in consultation with other parties, if they agree things can work out," he added.

Out of the 40 assembly seats in Goa, the Congress bagged 17 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 13 seats. Regional outfits like the Goa Forward and MGP won three seats each.

While the NCP emerged victorious in one seat, the independent candidates won three seats.