NCP notice to Churchill Alemao after he backs BJP in Goa floor test

PANAJI: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has issued a show-cause notice to its lone Goa MLA Churchill Alemao for supporting the BJP-led alliance during the trust vote in the assembly today.

The BJP, which won 13 seats in the recently-concluded assembly elections, mustered up the support of 22 legislators while 16 Congress MLAs voted against the trust motion.

The NCP notice to Alemao said he "violated the party discipline by participating in the meeting of BJP and supported them in formulation of their government without seeking the consent of the central leadership, which is against the party's constitution".

NCP's working committee member S R Kohli, who sent the notice, also said that Alemao had seven days to explain why necessary disciplinary action should not be taken as per anti-defection law and party's constitution.

Alemao, a former chief minister of the state, defeated his nearest rival from the Aam Aadmi Party by 5191 votes from Benaulim constituency.

The BJP-led alliance, headed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, was supported during the trust vote by 12 of the saffron party's members, three MLAs each of Goa Forward Party and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, as many Independents and one from the NCP (Alemao).