Goa is one such state which always gives hung assembly where parties with lower strength and independents dominate largest party of the alliance in ministry-formation. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant (BJP) with 12 members of his party out of total 21 members of the ruling alliance had to induct two Deputy Chief Ministers from smaller allies with three members each. Number of BJP ministers is just five out twelve BJP MLAs while there are seven ministers out of rest nine MLAs of the alliance. Even norm of having maximum 15-percent ministers out of total strength of lower House is not implemented in ministry-formation. Alliance-politics thus in fact is a blackmail politics of unholy political bargain.
Best is to elect Chief Minister by secret and compulsory vote of all MLAs through EVMs equipped with VVPAT on nominations signed by at least 34-percent MLAs to ensure direct election. Such an elected Chief Minister may be removed only by no-confidence motion passed by same process but with compulsion of naming alternate leader in the same motion. MLAs not participating in such election may retain membership of the House but may lose voting right in the state-assembly. Speakers and Deputy Speakers should also be elected by same process.
SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL