Team Herald
PANJIM: Continuing with the political drama, Congress on Wednesday claimed that three MLAs from the BJP have approached them and there is a possibility of these MLAs joining Congress.
The Congress claim comes a day after there was speculation that five of their MLAs, including former Chief Ministers Digambar Kamat and Pratapsingh Rane, as well as Dayanand Sopte, Subhash Shirodkar and Francis Silveria, would join BJP. Before that BJP MLA Michael Lobo had claimed that four Congress MLAs had contacted the Chief Minister and were willing to shift their political loyalty.
Addressing media persons, Sopte rubbished the speculation that he and others could be joining BJP and countered it by stating that three MLAs from the ruling side have approached them. “The news about us Congress MLAs going to BJP was known to me through newspapers today. No one has approached me nor have I approached anyone. These are all baseless rumours spread by BJP, who itself is on the verge of a split,” the Mandrem MLA said.
Sopte claimed that ‘three of their MLAs have already approached us and there is possibility of them joining the party’. “Considering the current political situation, wherein minus those in USA and Mumbai, everyone knows the total strength of the ruling coalition. If you see the numbers, Congress has 16 today and if three from their side join, we are 19, thus further reducing ruling numbers,” he stated and added, “In politics anything can happen.”
The BJP-led coalition government strength in the State assembly is 23, which includes BJP (14), MGP, Goa Forward and Independents three each. However, at present, in the absence of three MLAs – Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Ministers Francis D’Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar – their strength comes to 20. While Parrikar and D’Souza are in USA, Madkaikar is in Mumbai for medical treatment.
“To ensure political stability and to prove that all is well in the party, BJP is spreading baseless rumours about split in Congress. The fact is, BJP itself is on verge of split,” Sopte stated.
