Team Herald
PANJIM: Amidst the simmering volcano of a possible Congress split and defections or resignations on the cards, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) gave a clear powerful message that Margao MLA Digambar Kamat is no longer a part of the party’s future plans. The relationship reached its nadir as the AICC removed him from his current position as permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) with immediate effect.
AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal issued a communication in this regard on Sunday.
In April this year, Kamat was appointed as a permanent invitee to the CWC, the party’s top body.
Speaking to Herald, Kamat said, “I accept the party’s decision. I had not asked for the post when it was given to me so now that they have removed me, I have nothing to say. I accept it.”
The move comes after the Congress accused Kamat and Michael Lobo of conspiring against the party and hobnobbing with the BJP to engineer a split in the Congress Legislative Party (CLP).
Last week, the Congress removed Lobo as the CLP leader and also informed the decision to the Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar that he is no longer the Leader of the Opposition.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Amit Patkar has also filed a disqualification petition against Kamat and Lobo before the Speaker, who already conducted a preliminary hearing in the matter.
Kamat, on the other hand, had maintained that he is part of Congress. He had even said he was very much hurt by the statement of AICC Goa desk in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao that he was a co-conspirator in attempting to engineer a split in the CLP.
The Margao MLA, who was Chief Minister from 2007-2012, had said he had informed the High Command that his cadre was demoralised after he was removed as Leader of the Opposition.
“I am very much in the Congress and had made it clear to Rao. I told Rao that I am retired hurt and not ready to take any responsibility at this point,” Kamat had said.
Meanwhile, hours after Kamat was removed from the position of “permanent invitee” to CWC, Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) State coordinator Trajano D’Mello questioned the status of Kamat and former Leader of the Opposition Michael Lobo in the party.
D’Mello said there is also a disqualification petition filed against the two MLAs for defection and anti-party activities.
“Can the current party president (Amit Patkar) tell the people of Goa who need to know what is the status of these two MLAs in the Congress party?” he asked.
D’Mello said, “If the MLAs indulge in anti-party activities, what action has been taken against them? Have they been expelled? If yes, are they unattached or have you given these two MLAs into the clutches of BJP, who play with them as and when they want?”
