Congress writes to Governor, formally stakes claim to form government in Goa

Congress late on Sunday evening formally staked claim to form the government in Goa, hours after state chief minister Manohar Parrikar passed away.The opposition Congress, which is the single largest party in the 40-member Goa assembly, wrote to Governor Mridula Sinha, the second time in 48 hours.The letter signed by Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Chandrakant Kavlekar and Girish Chodankar, President Goa Pradesh Congress Committee states that coalition allies had aligned with the BJP in 2017 on the condition that it would support a BJP-led government only if the coalition was headed by Parrikar, the then Defence Minister."Now, in view of Mr. Parrikar's death, BJP has no allies," the letter submitted.It said that it was up to the Governor to ensure "smooth transition and transfer of power"."Congress being the single largest party, it is submitted that the leader of the Congress party is entitled to be invited to form the next government. We, therefore, hereby once again