Panaji, Sep 12:  The Goa Congress on Wednesday opposed to dissolve the state assembly and said it is ready to form a government in the state if Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is unable to do so. Congress leader Girish R. Chodankar wrote to Goa Governor Mridula Sinha stating that if the Chief Minister is unable to run the government, the Congress, being the single largest party and only opposition party, must get the opportunity to form a government in the coastal state.

"Congress vehemently opposes any move to dissolve Assembly before completion of the term. If Parrikar is unable to run the govt, we being single largest party and only opposition party must get an opportunity to form govt", Chodankar said.

Chodankar wrote to the Governor stating, "This is to caution you of a possible attempt that may be made to dissolve assembly on basis of concocted cabinet decision which was taken by Manohar Parrikar in 2002 when there was political uncertainty.'

The BJP-led government in Goa is headed by Manohar Parrikar, who has been visiting the US often for his treatment for a pancreatic ailment. The Congress had emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly polls held last year. In the Assembly elections held in February last year, the Congress had bagged 17 seats in the 40-member House but falling short of the majority figure by four seats.

In May this year, Congress Legislature Party chief Chandrakant Kavlekar had also said that the party will stake a claim to form a government in the coastal state by submitting to Governor a formal letter containing signatures of all the 16 MLAs that the party has now.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 12, 2018 05:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).