The Congress had the most seats after the results of the Goa state elections were declared. But they weren’t the party invited to form the next government in the state. That call went to the BJP which managed a last minute coup to stake a claim to form the next government.
The Congress ended the election with 17 seats while the BJP finished with 13.
However, the BJP managed to get the support of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party which had three seats, the Goa Forward party which also had three seats and two independent MLAs to stake claim to form the next government.
And that obviously didn’t go down well with the Congress. Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Monday accused the BJP of ‘stealing’ the polls in Goa and Manipur.
A party that comes second has no right to form the Government. BJP stealing elections in Goa and Manipur.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) March 13, 2017
Another spokesperson Shehzaad Poonawalla was equally combative, saying that the BJP had ‘bought’ the support of the other parties to form the next government in the state.
We form government on no. Of MLAs winning in an election not vote share or MLAs “purchased” post election!!! https://t.co/BmGbZV30qs
— Shehzad Poonawalla (@Shehzad_Ind) March 12, 2017
Shameful misuse of money power! BJP got its lowest seat share in Goa-its CM & ministers lost- was this a mandate for BJP? @digvijaya_28 https://t.co/acvL4UaWZT
— Shehzad Poonawalla (@Shehzad_Ind) March 12, 2017
In Goa & Manipur Congress ahead of BJP & deserves to form Govt But BJP is using all means- money, ministry & threats of cases to induce MLAs
— Shehzad Poonawalla (@Shehzad_Ind) March 12, 2017
Party leader Digvijaya Singh was more circumspect, apologizing to the people of the state for failing to form the next government in the state:
Money Power has won over People’s Power. I apologise to the People of Goa as we couldn’t muster the support to form the Govt.
— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) March 13, 2017
But party chief Rahul Gandhi remained silent on the matter. He did send out Holi wishes though.