Barely two months after the Congress appeared to have staved off a defection bid, eight of its 11 MLAs led by prime leaders Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo will be part of the ruling BJP later right this moment, sources stated. They met the Vidhan Sabha Speaker, in addition to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
If eight MLAs break free as a gaggle — two thirds of the occasion energy, that’s — they’ll keep away from disqualification below the anti-defection legislation. This morning, the MLAs’ assembly with the Speaker set off the speculations because the meeting will not be in session. State BJP chief Sadanand Shet Tanavade then informed information company PTI that they’re becoming a member of the occasion.
A Congress ally, Goa Ahead Get together chief Vijai Sardesai reacted with scorn, saying the defecting MLAs are “symbols of pure evil” who’re pursuing “greed for wealth and starvation for energy… in defiance of Almighty God”.
Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo had been on the centre of the switchover hypothesis in July too, and the Congress had even requested the speaker to disqualify them below the anti-defection legislation. It introduced to take away Michael Lobo as Chief of Opposition, however no alternative was named.
On the time, Kamat, a former chief minister, had stated he was “shocked and surprised” on the allegations of main a division. Even Michael Lobo, the Congress eliminated as Chief of Opposition, had claimed there was “no speak of any division”. Mr Lobo was within the BJP earlier than becoming a member of the Congress simply earlier than the elections earlier this 12 months.
The Congress was singed in a similar way in 2019, when two thirds of its meeting energy — 10 of 15 MLAs — defected to the BJP, which is why the occasion this 12 months made its candidates take a loyalty vow.
But, the newest defection wasn’t fully sudden, though in July the Congress managed to maintain a minimum of seven of its MLAs with it. There was no remaining transfer by the 4 others, together with — in addition to Mr Lobo and Kamat — Kedar Naik and Delilah Lobo, Mr Lobo’s spouse.
Senior chief Mukul Wasnik had been deputed by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to deal with the disaster, and he appeared to have stopped it.
Or not fairly, going by what’s taking place now.
The newest experiences of defection come when the Congress is holding a Bharat Jodo Yatra (Unite India March), led by Rahul Gandhi, whereas the BJP has been taking jibes: “Unite your occasion first.”
Within the Goa Vidhan Sabha, the BJP already has a majority of 25 within the Home of 40 — 20 MLAs of its personal, plus two from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Get together, and three independents. This may go as much as 33 as soon as eight from the Congress are available. The Congress may have three left now, in addition to assist of 1 MLA of Goa Ahead Get together. The AAP has two MLAs and the Revolutionary Goans Get together has one.
