MARGAO/PANJIM: As the tussle for cabinet berths in the expansion of the ministry heats up, the news of former Chief Minister and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat quitting the grand old party and rejoining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spread like fire on Wednesday, even as Kamat categorically denied it and termed it as a rumour.
There was speculation that in the cabinet expansion the BJP will induct Kamat as a Minister and allocate him the power portfolio.
When contacted, Kamat denied such a move and said that some people were spreading rumours. “I had gone to Delhi with my family for a wedding function yesterday (Tuesday) and today late evening I returned to Goa. I would have not been at home if I had a plan to quit Congress and join BJP,” he told Herald.
The former Chief Minister also blamed a section of the media for publishing reports on him and that too without verifying the facts. “There is no truth in the news that appeared in the national media on Wednesday evening,” he said. A national channel had reported that Kamat was quitting the Congress and joining the BJP.
Hearing the news many Congress leaders from the State were also confused. Newly-appointed Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Patkar said it is just a rumour.
“I have personally spoken to Digambar Kamat and he told me that it is just a rumour. He is the senior leader of the Congress party and we all believe in him. He will never indulge in such type of activities of shifting sides,” Patkar said.
On the other hand, BJP leaders also feigned ignorance about the ongoing speculation of Kamat quitting Congress and rejoining the saffron party.
BJP State president Sadanand Shet Tanavade said, “We are not aware about it. We are hearing it from the media persons.”
Former Deputy Chief Minister Manohar (Babu) Ajgaonkar, who lost to Kamat said, “BJP is an ocean, anyone can take a dip. It is for the BJP to decide to induct or not to induct (Kamat). Whatever the party says will be done. Party asked me to contest from Margao and I agreed.”
Eight-time MLA Kamat won his first Assembly election on a BJP ticket in 1994 before he quit the party and joined Congress party in 2005.
