Team News Riveting
Panaji, September 14
As the Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra proceeded in the southern state of Kerala, the grand old party received a big jolt as its legislature party split in another coastal state of Goa.
Eight of its 11 MLAs led by top leaders Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo split the party and joined the ruling BJP, reducing the opposition party to just three members. The development is hugely embarrassing for the Congress in the middle of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra (Unite India March), at which the BJP has been taking jibes: “Jodo (Unite) your party first.”
Besides Lobo and Kamat, the MLAs who joined the BJP included Delihah Lobo, Rajesh Phaldesai, Kedar Naik, Sankalp Amonkar, Aleixo Sequeira and Rudolf Louis Fernandes.
With eight MLAs breaking away as a group, it is two thirds of the party strength that would avoid the disqualification under the anti-defection law.
“It is Congress chhoro (quit Congress), BJP ko jodo,” quipped Michael Lobo. “We have joined BJP to strengthen the hands of PM Modi and CM Pramod Sawant,” he added.
All top Congress leaders who strengthened the party will leave it in the coming days because of too much of differences among themselves, Lobo said. “We’re representing the people, will have to hear their voices; told us to leave and we are leaving,” he added.
