from Richie Lasrado in Panaji
with inputs from Goa bureau
supported by Sanjay Borkar

Panaji, Jun 28 (Thursday, 1-30 pm): Unexpected political drama unfolded in Goa as the coalition partner Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) threatened to pull out of the government on Thursday morning. The reason proffered is their displeasure over allotment of portfolios in the recent cabinet expansion.

A top NCP leader has told Daijiworld that Congress had earlier assured NCP of the urban development portfolio but backtracked from the assurance during the recent cabinet expansion.

The NCP high command has reportedly asked its two ministers Francisco 'Mickey' Pacheco and Jose Filipe D'Souza to resign from the cabinet in protest.

The NCP leaders and ministers were huddled together at a top-level meeting at the residence of NCP leader Dr Willie D'Souza in Saligao. CM Digambar Kamat is said to be trying to mollify the angry coalition partner.

However, the party during the meeting currently in progress around 1-30 pm will decide if, although it was withdrawing from the government, it should continue to support it from outside.

More colour was added to the unexpected political developments during the day by lone woman Congress MLA Victoria Fernandes from Santa Cruz when she got out of the hospital where she had been admitted to go into fast again. It has added more woes to already-mounting pile of problems for new chief minister Digambar Kamat.

As the Daijiworld team was passing by the Customs House opposite the seafront around noon, Fernandes has just arrived at the jetty to lie down and continue her fast. She has reportedly continued the hunger strike against medical advice.

Political sources said that the government could be in danger and the BJP is waiting in the wings to form the government with the help of Atanasio 'Babush' Monserrate-led United Goan Democratic Party (UGDF).