Two months after the Congress felt it has successfully thwarted an attempt of some of its Goa MLAs to defect, eight of its 11 legislators joined the BJP.
Panjim: Hours after the Congress collapsed in Goa, former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said he planned and executed the quitting of the Congress MLAs after divine consent.
“I went to the temple again and asked God what to do. God told me do whatever is best for you,” Kamat justified his defection when asked about a breach of pledge. Notably, the Congress had made its MLAs take a vow at a temple and at a church that they would not leave.
Two months after the Congress felt it has successfully thwarted an attempt of some of its Goa MLAs to defect, eight of its 11 legislators joined the BJP, speculations about which had sparked off early on Wednesday morning after the MLAs met the Assembly Speaker and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Also Read: 8 of 11 MLAs join BJP, Congress collapses in Goa
The defection news comes amid the Bharat Jodo Yatra by Rahul Gandhi. The yatra has been criticised by the BJP and Congress has been asked to first concentrate on a yatra to unite the party.
The meeting with the Speaker was unusual as the Assembly is not in session. Meanwhile, sources said since the Congress MLAs joined as a group, which is two-thirds of the party strength, they can avoid being disqualified under the anti-defection law.
Earlier in July, there were rumours that around six Congress MLAs, including names like Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo, will join the BJP. However, the Congress asked the Speaker to disqualify Kamat and Lobo under the anti-defection law.
The Congress had somehow managed to keep at least seven MLAs in its fold. A key party meeting was held and four leaders did not show up — Lobo, Kamar, Kedar Nai and Lobo’s wife Delilah Lobo. It is important to note that Michael Lobo had joined Congress after quitting BJP. He was removed as the Leader of Opposition by the Congress.
