Goa Governor S C Jamir prorogued the Assembly on Thursday leading to demands from the opposition BJP that he be recalled.

Leader of the Opposition Manohar Parrikar said Jamir was biased and must be removed. He demanded that Chief Minister Digamber Kamat had lost the confidence of the House and must be sacked. The former CM said the Kamat Government had been reduced to a minority as the strength of his opponents totalled 22 in the House of 40.

Even as the three NCP MLAs, who withdrew support to the Government on Wednesday, remained defiant and refused to pull back, the party rushed in senior leader Praful Patel to woo back the legislators. Senior Congress leader B K Hariprasad was also holding talks with partymen.

Earlier in the day, 22 MLAs led by Independent MLA Vishwajit Rane arrived at the Assembly only to find it prorogued by the Governor. Rane was accompanied by the three NCP MLAs, United Goans Democratic Party MLA Babush Monserrate and Reginaldo Lourenco of the Save Goa Front. The group included 14 BJP MLAs and two MLAs from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party.

“Development and creation of employment is important for us to serve our constituents. Hence we had to go with the majority group,” said Rane, son of former CM and Speaker Pratapsinh Rane. The senior Rane, however, insists he has nothing to do with his son’s activities. “Why do you club me and my father together,” the son later told The Indian Express. Vishwajit Rane has demanded the post of CM in the talks held with the BJP, it is learnt.

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