Congress Caught Off Guard In Goa As 10 Of 15 MLAs Merge With BJP

PANAJI: Winds of political instability in neighbouring Karnataka reached Goa Wednesday, with two-thirds (10 out of 15) of Congress MLAs breaking away to merge with the ruling BJP in the coast state. The group, led by Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar, met Assembly Speaker Rajesh Patnekar in the evening and gave him a letter, informing him about their breaking away from the party. "10 Congress MLAs are splitting from the Congress and joining the BJP tonight," IANS quoted Congress MLA Isidore Fernandes as saying. Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar is the leader of the group which has split from the Congress, he said. "We are going to meet the Speaker now. Once we step out, we would formally announce what has happened," said Deputy Speaker of the state assembly Michael Lobo, who led the group of rebel Congress MLAs to Speaker Rajesh Patnekar's office in the assembly premises. The MLAs include Atanasio Monserratte, Jeniffer Monserratte, Francis Silveira, Philip Nery Rodrigues, Cleaofacio Dias, Wilfred DSa, Nilkant Halarnkar and Isidor Fernandes.

Goa CM Pramod Sawant: 10 Congress MLAs, along with their Opposition Leader, have merged with BJP. Strength of BJP has now risen to 27. They had come for development of the state & their constituency. They have not put forward any condition, they have joined BJP unconditionally. pic.twitter.com/uQOOuNoNhR

— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2019

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who was present when the group arrived at the Assembly complex, said the 10 MLAs have merged with the BJP. The development brings down the legislative strength of the Congress to a paltry five MLAs. It includes Digambar Kamat, Luzinho Faleiro, Ravi Naik, Pratapsingh Rane, all of whom have served as Chief MInister and MLA Aliexo Reginaldo. BJP is the single largest party with 17, Goa Forward Party and Independents have three each, while one MLA each is from NCP and MGP. When asked, Kavlekar refused to give reason behind their move, but said that they will make a statement later in the evening. Sawant was sworn in as CM in March this year, after the death of then CM Manohar Parrikar. (With inputs from agencies)