New Delhi: As the Congress looks towards a political crisis in Goa, state Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday (July 12) denied the BJP’s role in the “rebellion” by the old party MLAs. “I reiterate that the BJP has nothing to do with the rebellion in the Congress Legislature Party,” PTI quoted the Goa Chief Minister as saying. When asked about the developments in Goa Congress, Sawant made the remarks outside the assembly premises.
After the Shiv Sena revolt in Maharashtra, speculation followed the split of five out of the party’s total 11 MLAs—Michael Lobo, Digambar Kamat, Kedar Naik, Rajesh Faldesai and Deliala Lobo—in the Goa Congress. Congress President Sonia Gandhi immediately sent senior party leader Mukul Wasnik to Goa in view of the developments.
Congress also alleged Lobo and former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat accused of ‘conspiracy and cheating’ The reason for the split in the legislative wing of the party with the ruling BJP in the state. As a result, the Congress also removed Lobo from the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Goa Legislative Assembly.
However, these Congress MLAs attended the monsoon session of the Goa Legislative Assembly on Monday and claimed that there was nothing wrong with the old party. Ten Congress MLAs were also present in the meeting chaired by Wasnik in Panaji on Monday night.
Lobo, who was removed from the post of LOP, clarified that he was with the Congress and there was a “misunderstanding”. “All Congress MLAs are with the party. I told him that I do not want to continue as the leader of the opposition as I will not be able to do justice to the post,” he said, adding that either Digambar Kamat or Sankalp Amonkar may be selected for the post.
(with agency input)