'Rumours': Goa Congress refutes talks of party MLAs joining BJP

A day before the start of the two-week-long Assembly session, Goa Congress refuted talks of some of the party MLAs planning to join the BJP.

On Sunday (July 10), Goa Congress chief Amit Patkar said such rumours were being spread by the ruling BJP party, a PTI report said.

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“Seven MLAs are there (at the meeting). I was not called by high command, only here for a courtesy meeting. Rumours (about MLAs leaving for BJP) are all over, what is to be done. I can vouch for myself, can’t say for anyone else,” Congress MLA Aleixo Sequeira told news agency ANI about Sunday’s meeting of MLAs at a hotel in Margao.

CLP meeting

On Saturday, AICC Goa in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao held a Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting in Panaji.

“Informal Meeting of @INCGoa MLAs in Panaji. CLP leader @MichaelLobo76, PCC President @amitspatkar, Working President @Yurialemao9, Alexio Sequeria, @SankalpAmonkar, Carlos Ferriera, Rudolph Fernandes, @DelilahLobo77, Kedar Naik, Rajesh Faldessai & Alton D’costa were present,” tweeted Rao.

He also called the reports of his party MLAs planning to jump ship “totally a rumour”.

Informal Meeting of @INCGoa MLA’s in Panaji.
CLP leader @MichaelLobo76, PCC President @amitspatkar, Working President @Yurialemao9, Alexio Sequeria, @SankalpAmonkar, Carlos Ferriera, Rudolph Fernandes, @DelilahLobo77, Kedar Naik, Rajesh Faldessai & Alton D’costa were present. pic.twitter.com/lh863pw1fA

— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) July 9, 2022

Goa Congress’ official Twitter handle posted pictures of the meeting and wrote, “Today Congress Legislative Party along with AICC Gen Sec Goa Incharge, Shri. @dineshgrao, GPCC President Shri. @amitspatkar delibrated and discussed the strategy of floor management for the upcoming monsoon session starting on 11th July 2022.”

Today Congress Legislative Party along with AICC Gen Sec Goa Incharge, Shri.@dineshgrao, GPCC President Shri.@amitspatkar delibrated and discussed the strategy of floor management for the upcoming monsoon session starting on 11th July 2022. pic.twitter.com/RVFT0eBKzl

— Goa Congress (@INCGoa) July 9, 2022

An NDTV report, citing sources, said that Digambar Kamat – the party’s Chief Ministerial nominee in the elections held earlier this year – skipped the meeting.

Goa Congress president Amit Patkar said on Saturday, “Eight of our 11 MLAs are new. There was a meeting today on floor management (in the House). Our senior MLAs had had discussions with the new MLAs, and I am hopeful that from Monday you will see the Congress raising public issues (in the House) against this government, which has failed.”

The 40-member Goa Assembly has 25 MLAs from the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) while the Opposition Congress has 11 legislators.

Also read: In Goa, Congress fought a losing battle, but not hard enough to win

Notification cancelled

Meanwhile, Goa Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar on Sunday cancelled the notification for election to the post of deputy speaker, which was scheduled for July 12.

The order, issued by Legislature Secretary Namrata Ulman, informed the July 8 notification under Rule 308 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Goa Legislative Assembly stands withdrawn.

“Hence, the notice of nomination for election of deputy speaker issued under 9(2) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Goa Legislative Assembly stands withdrawn as well,” the order further said.

(With inputs from agencies)