PANJIM: The State is yet to bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control, but the political scene in Goa is suddenly seeing hectic activity following the notice from the Supreme Court to the Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker on the disqualification case against 10 MLAs.

Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Wednesday hurriedly called a meeting of the 10 MLAs who defected from Congress to the BJP last July. The meeting comes close on the heels of the Supreme Court (SC) admitting the disqualification petition against the 10 MLAs filed by GPCC president Girish Chodankar.

Besides, there is also speculation of two Goa Forward Party (GFP) MLAs – Jayesh Salgaocar and Vinod Palyekar – switching sides to BJP.

Dy Chief Minister Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar, who had led the 10 MLAs from the Congress to the BJP, tried to play down the Supreme Court notice and said they met the chief minister to discuss development works. “We discussed various issues with the CM, including pending development in the constituencies,” he said.

He further said besides that the SC notice to Speaker was also taken up. “We discussed the SC notice to Speaker Rajesh Patnekar, but it was not a major issue. We have done everything as per the law,” he said.

Asked about disqualification threat, he said there was no such fear. “There is no question of disqualification. We are legally correct,” he stressed.

Sources said the meeting also discussed the strategy and legal options in view of the SC petition.

Earlier, Panjim MLA Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate said he would be retire from politics being in the BJP. “Babu was our leader. We followed him at the time of joining BJP. If need be, we are ready to resign and re-contest,” Monserrate said.

Last week, the Supreme Court had issued a notice to the Goa Assembly Speaker on a plea by Chodankar for a direction to him to decide on the disqualification of 10 party MLAs who joined the BJP. MGP has also filed disqualification petition before the Speaker, against two of its former MLAs who joined BJP.