Congress MLAs in Goa boycott Governor’s address

Panaji, March 23 (IANS) Congress legislators wore black bands and staged a walkout during Governor Mridula Sinha's address in the assembly on Thursday.

They accused her of "murdering democracy" by not inviting the Congress, which had emerged as the single largest group in the February 4 polls, to form a government.

Speaking to reporters in the assembly complex, opposition leader Chandrakant Kavlekar said Sinha's decision was "unconstitutional" and "biased".

"We came wearing black bands to ensure that the Governor saw the outrage against her controversial and unconstitutional decision, which was taken on directions from the central government," the Congress leader said.

"She has murdered the Constitution with this decision," Kavlekar added.

Earlier, as Sinha rose to deliver her address to the newly elected legislators, Congress legislators raised a ruckus shouting slogans against her and staged a walk out.

While the Congress won 17 seats in the assembly, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 13.

Sinha invited BJP leader Manohar Parrikar to form a government after the party submitted letters of support from eight other MLAs, including elected representatives from two regional parties.