Goa’s political scene is heated up again with reports of 8 Congress MLAs reaching the Secretariat to meet Ramesh Tawadkar the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly on Wednesday morning. The main gates of the Goa Assembly complex were closed for the media ahead of the Congress MLAs joining BJP.
BJP State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade spoke to Herald and said, “I can confirm that 8 MLAs from the Congress have split. About them all joining BJP I will inform you later. They don’t need to resign as MLAs”.
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However, it was then confirmed that the 8 MLAs: Digambar Kamat, Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo, Rajesh Phaldesai, Kedar Naik, Sankalp Amonkar, Aleixo Sequeira and Rodolfo Fernandes have indeed joined the BJP.
After joining the BJP, former Congress MLA Digambar Kamat claimed that the decision to leave BJP was taken years ago, and as per circumstance, one has to take such decisions in politics. He added that the decision was taken based on the interest of the state and constituency after looking at the work done by the BJP. “I believe in God, I went back to God and told him about the current situation and asked him what to do. God told me to go ahead, I’m with you”, stated Kamat.
Echoing a similar statement, Michael Lobo said that they have started a similar campaign to the Congress’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, the difference being that the BJP has started a ‘Congress Chodo, BJP Jodo Yatra.’ He added that he decided to join the BJP to ensure the smooth functioning of the State.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated that the joining of the 8 Congress MLAs into the BJP is a clear indication of Congress Bharat Chodo, not Congress Bharat Jodo Yatra. He further added that this day had been in waiting. “Today these 8 MLAs who have joined the BJP know the good work and importance of BJP in the country”, said Sawant.
Later, the Goa Congress party in a press conference termed the BJP’s act as daylight murder of democracy and also claimed to have plans to revive the Congress party in Goa. GPCC President Amit Patkar went on to say that the people of Goa will surely vote for the Congress in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and that the Congress will surely win both seats in Goa.
