Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Two days before the 10-day Goa Legislative Assembly session begins in Goa, there is a buzz of 10-Congress MLAs switching sides and joining the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
This may happen as early as Sunday or before the presidential polls.
In the 40-member Assembly, BJP has 20 MLAs, while there are 11 MLAs of the Congress, two each of AAP and MGP, and five independent MLAs.
According to sources, the disgruntled Congress MLAs are in touch with the BJP leadership.
“They are ready to join. But the leadership has decided not to hurry but induct them as per the party’s requirement,” a BJP leader said.
“The BJP’s plan is to ask the Congress MLAs to cross-vote in the presidential poll and later take them into the party. Former chief minister and Congress leader Digambar Kamat has already spoken with the leadership.” said a BJP leader adding no final decision has been taken yet.
A Congress leader said the main reason is harassment by the BJP-led government. “Most MLAs own hotels. BJP has been issuing notices to them, asking them to pull down the structures. The other businesses are also targeted,” he said.
Sources revealed that two of teh top Congress leaders have already have two-rounds of talks with the BJP’s Mota bhai in Delhi and it is matter of time the induction takes place.
“The decks have been cleared and it is just the matter of time, when the BJP wants to induct them,” said the source.
The indusction of 10 MLAs will mean BJP will get a brute majority of 30 MLAs on their own and with MGP and three independents their strength in the House would be 35.
Only one Congress MLA from South is not ready to join as he is demanding a ministry, which cannot be assured at this jucnture, said the source.
A similar coup had hit the Congress in 2019 when Babu Kavlekar led 10 Congress MLAs joined BJP.
When contacted the leaders refused to admit there was any such move.
“There is nothing of this sought and it is just media speculation,” said a Congress MLA from North Goa.
