With the Supreme Court asking the Bharatiya Janata Party to prove its majority in the Goa assembly on Thursday, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said another Independent MLA has supported his coalition government, raising its tally to 22.

"There has been a speculation for the last two days if the BJP has really got the majority required to form the government and here we are; we have 22 legislators with us," Parrikar told reporters after taking oath at Raj Bhavan.

Responding to reporters' query, Parrikar said another Independent MLA has given support to the coalition, taking its tally to 22, two more than the halfway mark of 20 in the 40-member House.

While Independents Rohan Khaunte and Govind Gawade have already backed the BJP-led coalition and even took oath with Parrikar as ministers, the third Independent MLA Parrikar referred to is Prasad Gaonkar (Sanguem).

When contacted, Gaonkar said, "I have given my letter of support to the BJP-led government. And my support is unconditional."

Parrikar exuded confidence that the BJP would prove its majority on the floor of the House on March 16. -- PTI