Team Herald
PANJIM: As the 2022 Goa Assembly elections nearing, the strength of the Assembly is dwindling with MLAs switching parties, assessing his or her prospects to win the elections and return to the Assembly.
With the 5 resignations until now, the Assembly strength is reduced to 35. Possibly this Legislative Assembly have seen the largest number of resignations during the five-year term.
Starting with Luizinho Faleiro of the Congress, who resigned as Navelim MLA on 26 November and later joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Goa Forward Party’s (GFP) Jayesh Salgaokar followed suit. He resigned as Saligao MLA on December 2 and joined the BJP. In quick succession Ravi Naik resigned from Congress on December 7 and joined arch-rival BJP.
Recently, lone Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Churchill Alemao, who was expected to resign, surprisingly merged the NCP legislative wing into TMC on December 13 and joined TMC. Churchill’s fate depends on the decision of Goa Speaker Rajesh Patnekar, before whom the NCP has filed disqualification petition against him, citing provisions of the anti-defection law.
Independent Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte who had earlier shown inclination towards joining the Congress resigned as a legislator on December 15 is expected to join the BJP today. Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha of BJP resigned on December 16. She hasn’t announced her next choice though there are speculations are rife that she may join Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
