Congress acts tough, seeks disqualification of defecting Goa MLAs

In a stern message to those planning to defect to the BJP, the Congress has sought the disqualification of two of its Goa MLAs — Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo.

Congress has 11 MLAs in the Goa Assembly and on Sunday, four of them were missing from a meeting. Besides Kamat and Lobo, Kedar Naik and Delilah Lobo, Lobo’s wife, were absent during the meeting.

Congress leaders have petitioned the Speaker to disqualify Kamat and Michael Lobo under the anti-defection law.

To leave without facing disqualification under the anti-defection law, the rebels will need at least two-thirds of the House members to go with them. This means at least 7 MLAs will have to leave the party.

Although reports quoted sources as saying that 6 MLAs were planning on hopping over to the BJP, Sunday’s meeting established the Congress strength in the House.

Also read: ‘Rumours’: Goa Congress refutes talks of party MLAs joining BJP

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has deputed senior party leader Mukul Wasnik to manage the crisis.

In a startling revelation, former Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar has alleged that the BJP was offering its MLAs ₹40 crore to defect.

These defection offers were being made through industrialists and the coal mafia to the Congress MLAs, Chodankar said, adding that some of them then informed Goa in-charge of Congress, Dinesh Gundu Rao.

The BJP has denied the allegations and its role in the alleged crisis in Congress.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said that the party has complete majority in the House and doesn’t need any more MLAs.

Kamat, a former chief minister, too has denied any plans of joining the BJP. He said he was shocked and stunned at allegations that claimed he was leading the rebel pack.

The Congress has removed Michael Lobo as Leader of Opposition. Lobo too denied joining BJP, saying, “Nobody has approached me and there is no thought on these lines (of defection).”

Dinesh Gundu Rao said Kamat and Lobo were planning defections because of personal reasons: “One person — Digambar Kamat — did it to safeguard his own skin because so many cases are against him; and the other person — Michael Lobo — for the sake of power and position. BJP wants to finish any opposition.”