In what could be a big blow for the Congress, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Goa Assembly Michael Lobo, along with 9 other party MLAs, is rumoured to be in touch with the BJP to switch sides. Several reports, citing sources, claimed that 10 Congress MLAs, including Lobo, will join the saffron party today.
Ahead of Goa assembly elections this year, Michael Lobo with his wife Delilah had quit the BJP and joined Congress. Following his exit from the saffron party, BJP’s Goa poll in-charge Devendra Fadnavis had said that Lobo quit as the party was not ready to give a poll ticket to his wife.
Michael Lobo, who’s known strongman from North Goa, had held ministerial post during the first Pramod Sawant government, with state port and waste management portfolios. As the BJP embarked on another victory in assembly polls, Congress appointed Lobo as the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly.
The MLA from Calangute, as per sources, is likely to return to the saffron fold and will be officially re-inducted into the party today.
However, the Congress party has denied any rift within the party ahead of the two-week Budget Session of the assembly.
Amit Patkar, Goa Congress chief, said such rumours were being spread by the ruling BJP, news agency PTI reported.
Several Congress MLAs ha skipped a party meeting a day before an assembly session, giving rise to speculation about dissension in the ranks and talk of some of the leaders being in touch with the ruling BJP.
Sources said that among the leaders who skipped the meeting was Digambar Kamat, the party’s Chief Ministerial nominee in the elections held earlier this year.
Digambar Kamat was reportedly upset that Michael Lobo was made Leader of the Opposition. However, the Congress has denied such reports.
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