8 Cong MLAs in Goa join BJP
The Congress is now left with only three legislators in the assembly
In yet another setback to the Congress in Goa, a group of eight MLAs led by Michael Lobo, who was removed from the post of Leader of the Opposition, joined the ruling BJP on Wednesday.
With this, the number of BJP legislators has gone up to 28 and the coalition’s strength to 33 in the 40member assembly.
The Congress is now left with only three legislators.
Former chief minister Digambar Kamat, Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo, Kedar Naik, Sankalp Amonkar, Rajesh Faldesai, Aleixo Sequeira and Rudolf Fernandes are the legislators who have switched parties.
After the formalities of merger, Lobo, Kamat and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant addressed the media at the assembly complex.
Lobo said that the eight MLAs had called a Congress Legislature Party meeting in the morning and after discussion decided to merge with the BJP.
“We took the resolution of the merging party and handed over a copy to the legislative secretary. We gave one copy to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and informed the assembly speaker about it,” he said.
“We have joined the BJP to strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and also for the development of Goa.”
Kamat said that in politics, decisions are based on circumstances. “I had said initially that whatever was happening in the Congress was not good. If you read the letter of Ghulam Nabi Azad, while leaving Congress, you can draw conclusions that instead of ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ Congress should have launched ‘Congress Jodo Yatra’,” Kamat said.
“Citizens of our nation are treated with respect at international level under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nobody dares to disrespect Indians in any country. Because such an environment has been created by our Prime Minister in the world. India will become a superpower. While this is happening, Goa should not stay behind,” Kamat said.