BJP's Goa govt on shaky ground

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government in Goa is on the brink of losing its majority in the state assembly after former minister Micky Pacheco, who was dropped from the state Cabinet last month, withdrew support to it today.

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Pacheco's resignation is being seen by political observers as the first step in the opposition's plan to pull the government down. But Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, hosting a strategy conclave of top BJP politicians at Dona Paula near the capital Panjim, dismissed any threat to his government.

Pacheco, who has been blowing hot and cold ever since he was booted out, said: "Parrikar was acting like a dictator."

Pacheco was dropped from the Cabinet on June 14 while on a tour abroad. Mathany Saldhana, the sole United Goans Democratic Party legislator, was inducted in his place the same day. Pacheco, along with another UGDP member, Babush Monseratte, had left the party last year to join the BJP.

While Pacheco formed the UGDP-Micky and extended support to Parrikar's government, Monseratte joined the BJP.

The BJP now has 19 legislators in the 40 member House. It still enjoys the support of three other MLAs Sudin Dhawalikar of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, Saldhana, and Philip Neri D'Souza, an independent.