Report: Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (SP)

Panaji, Jun 20: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday June 19 accused the ruling coalition government headed by the Congress Party, of using the BJP legislators as a vehicle to insulate itself against the internal wrangling.
 
 “The Congress Party has been trying to retain its flock together by floating rumours about the BJP legislators joining the Congress Party. This is nothing but an attempt to impede their internal fights,” BJP Goa chief Sripad Naik told the reporters here Friday.
 
The BJP leaders were perturbed over the constant reports appearing in the media, quoting sources,  that a group of three legislators including Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar were planning to desert the BJP to join the Congress.
 
“The Congress-led coalition has ample numbers on the floor of the house. Why should they try to lure the BJP MLAs? Their attempts indicate that there is something amiss within the ruling group,” Naik quipped.
 
The Goa BJP Chief theorized that the Congress is wary of instability and internal feud. “They are trying to fight back any possible rebellion, by falsely claiming that they would be able to garner enough numbers to satisfy the requirement of simple majority on the floor of the house, by enrolling certain BJP legislators into the party fold,” Naik stated.
 
The BJP leader said that no legislator from the party is willing to join the Congress party, as all of them are happy here.
 
Leader of the opposition in the state assembly Manohar Parrikar, who was present for the briefing, said that the party in future, will not respond to the media calls inquiring about the desertion by party legislators.
 
“We feel there is no need to respond. Everyone will come to know, if any of the BJP legislators resigns. Such legislators will have to face elections afresh, if they choose to leave the party,” Parrikar said.
 
The former Chief Minister also said that the party will not waste its time on responding to the rumours that are being floated by their opponents time and again.