Manohar Parrikar to face floor test today

The BJP-led government in Goa, headed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, will face the Floor test this morning, special Assembly session has been convened for the purpose. Siddharth Kunkolienkar was administered the oath as a pro-tem speaker yesterday by Governor Mridula Sinha.

Mr Parrikar, who stepped down as Defence Minister, was sworn-in as the Chief Minister of the coastal state for the fourth time on Tuesday evening, along with nine ministers. He claims support of 22 legislators, two more than the halfway mark in



the 40-member Assembly.

BJP had bagged 13 seats in the polls, while it claims support of three MLAs each of the Goa Forward Party and Maharashtravadi Gomantak Party, besides three independents. Congress had won 17 seats.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Supreme Court cleared the decks for the oath taking of Mr Parrikar as CM by refusing Congress' plea to stay the ceremony. It ordered holding of the floor test today. The apex court had said, no other business apart from holding the floor test will be conducted.