Did Philip Neri join BJP?

| 02 February 2002 00:18 IST

In a sudden twist to the ongoing toppling drama, Goa Assembly speaker fixed the hearing of a disqualification petition while the session would face a trust vote in the afternoon today.

The disqualification petition claims that Philip Neri Rodrigues, an independent, had joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in October 2002, almost over two years ago.

Rodrigues, the former minister in the BJP government, had precipitated the crisis by withdrawing support to the government along with another alliance partner.

With his disqualification, the opposition would be reduced to 17, equivalent to the ruling side of 17, including United Goans Democratic Party’s tourism minister Mathany Saldhana.

Exercising his right to cast a vote in case of a tie, speaker Vishwas Satarkar could then save the Manohar Parrikar government by voting in favour of the trust vote.

The hearing was fixed today at 10 am by issuing public notice to Rodrigues through newspaper advertisements, on a disqualification petition filed by BJP legislator Rajesh Patnekar on 29 January. This petition had reportedly claimed that Rodrigues was associating with political parties.

However, during the hearing today morning, the speaker took up another petition filed by another BJP MLA Sadanand Shet Tanavade on 1 February, claiming that Rodrigues had joined the BJP.

As per the provisions of the anti-defection act, any independent legislator can invite disqualification if he joins the political party.

Getting shocked over the petition, counsels of Rodrigues have asked for more time. The speaker has granted them additional time till 12 noon.

The session would begin at 2.30 pm, when Parrikar would move the trust vote.

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