Live: SC Allows Parrikar’s Swearing-in, Floor Test on 16 March

• Manohar Parrikar to take oath as chief minister of Goa as scheduled
  
• The SC refused to stay Manohar Parrikar’s swearing-in as Goa CM
  
• The Supreme Court ordered a floor test to decide the next government in Goa to be held at 11 am on 16 March
  
• The SC bench asks Congress to show the support they have and approach the Governor
  
• Congress accuses the BJP of horse-trading during the hearing of the petition in SC
  
• The SC agreed to hear the Congress’ petition challenging the appointment of Manohar Parrikar as the next CM of Goa
  
• The Governor appointed Manohar Parrikar as the CM and invited the BJP to form the government
  

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi interacted with the media for the first time after the results on Tuesday. He accused the BJP of using financial power and undermining the democracy.

"We are in the opposition, you have ups and downs and we had a little down in UP; we accept it. Our fight is against BJP's ideology, what they did in Manipur & Goa is exactly the ideology we are fighting against. Out of 5 states, BJP won 2, we won 3. In two of the states we won democracy is being undermined by them, using financial power & money," he said.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who is representing the Congress told the reporters the grounds on which the party had filed the petition.

Adhering to constitution, the Governor should have consulted the single largest party before giving her nod to BJP to form the government, he said.

The Governor’s decision of inviting the BJP to form the government was made in haste and was a “misuse of the power of the office of the Governor.”

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay Manohar Parrikar’s swearing-in. The apex court also ordered a floor test to be held at 11am on 16 March.

The Supreme Court heard Congress’ petition challenging appointment of Manohar Parrikar as Goa CM and ordered for a floor test to be held on Tuesday.

Senior lawyer Harish Salve is representing the Central government while Abhishek Singhvi is representing Congress in the SC.

During the hearing, Congress alleged that BJP involved in horse-trading. The petitioner alleged that BJP has violated constitutional practices.

CJI Khehar observed that the numbers should determine the single largest party in the state. The bench asks Congress to show the numbers and asked why the party didn’t approach the Governor to form the government.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley took charge as the defence minister on Tuesday.

Jaitley was given the additional charge of the Defence Ministry after Manohar Parrikar resigned to take charge as Goa chief minister.

Congress legislators were seen arguing during the party’s meeting on Tuesday morning. The legislators were reportedly angry because of the delay in the decision making.

At least three legislators or MLAs have reportedly threatened to quit the party accusing "seniors" of mismanagement, NDTV reported.

Congress MLA, Vishwajit Rane on Tuesday said that Congress' decision making was slow which was the reason why they couldn't form the government despite having 17 seats. He didn't name any individuals but blamed the parrty.

Government Must Act According to Constitution: Digvijay Singh

Congress on Tuesday gave an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha over issue of government formation in Goa and Manipur.

Congress leader Digvijay Singh addressed the media on Tuesday and asserted that the single largest party must be called to form the government.

“In Delhi, when the BJP was the largest party, they were called to form the government, but they had refused. That is when AAP was invited, so AAP-Cong formed the government,” he added.

The Congress legislative party is supposed to meet at Congress house in Panjim. Congress MLAs along with Digvijay Singh will call on the Governor after the meeting.

The Congress on Monday urged Goa Governor Mridula Sinha to invite the party to form the next government by virtue of being the single largest party, a day ahead of swearing-in of BJP leader Manohar Parrikar as Chief Minister.

In a memorandum submitted to the Governor on Monday night, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) claimed to have the requisite support and that they can prove the same on the floor of the House.

Read the full story here.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was given the additional charge of the Defence Ministry after Manohar Parrikar resigned.

"Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has directed that Arun Jaitley, Cabinet Minister, shall be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Defence, in addition to his existing portfolios," a Rashtrapati Bhawan communique said.

This is the second time that Jaitley is holding the additional portfolio of Defence Ministry during the present NDA government.

He was in charge of the ministry earlier from 26 May to 9 November in 2014.

The Supreme Court has agreed to urgently hear the Congress' petition challenging the appointment of Manohar Parrikar as the next Chief Minister of Goa. The court is expected to hear the matter at 11 am on Tuesday.

The hurriedly filed petition late in the evening was mentioned at the residence of Chief Justice JS Khehar, who agreed to give an urgent hearing on Tuesday.

Read the full story here.

The Congress will raise the issue of government formation in Goa and Manipur in Parliament on Wednesday.

In Manipur, efforts continue for government formation in the state as both the BJP and the Congress met the Governor in Imphal last night, with the ruling Congress staking claim to form the government and the BJP showing its strength.

In Goa, the BJP, which won 13 seats in the 40-member Goa Assembly, managed to garner support from other parties and Independents to attain majority under Parrikar. The Congress got 17 seats in the recently-concluded polls.

Former finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram accused the BJP of stealing seats in Goa and Manipur.

Reacting to the development in Goa and Manipur, former Union minister P Chidambaram tweeted, “The BJP is stealing elections in Goa and Manipur. A party that comes second has no right to form the government.”

Read the full story here.

As counting wrapped up in Goa on 11 March, it became clear that the state was headed for a hung assembly. The BJP got 13 seats, the Congress got 17 and others, including Independents, 10 seats.

Three MLAs each of the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), three Independent MLAs and a sole Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator were literally worth their weight in gold, but also available for picking.

After day-long hectic parleys on Sunday, the BJP claimed to have got the support of 21 MLAs and the Governor invited Parrikar to form the government.

The BJP’s bid to form governments in Goa – as well as Manipur – despite being a runner-up in both states, by cobbling up a coalition with regional players, drew flak from the Congress on Monday.

Also Read: How Parrikar and the BJP Got a Fix on Power in Goa