Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Amid speculations of a possible switch over from BJP to Congress, Minister Michael Lobo refuted the rumours stating he has been part of BJP for the last 15 years and continue to be.
Lobo yesterday attended the one to one meeting with BJP Goa election in-charge Devendra Fadnavis.
“I have been with BJP for 15 years, there are always ups and down and different views, but then people tend to say you are leaving. But that is not what it is,” said Lobo speaking to reporters after meeting Fadnavis.
He further said that the meeting was to discuss the strategy for the upcoming Goa elections.
Recently, Lobo had lashed out at the Goa BJP leadership, saying that the party has become a commercial entity in the state and that it was no longer a party that former chief minister Manohar Parrikar had built.
There were speculations that Lobo is inching closer to Congress and could quit the BJP soon.
It was rumoured that he was unhappy that the BJP leadership is neither keen on giving an election ticket to his wife Delilah Lobo nor are they willing to support her candidature as an independent.
As news spread, Lobo was to switch sides; Fadnavis tried his best to convince Lobo to fall in line and abide by the party and later took Lobo to Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah. But Lobo remained firm on his wife’s candidature.
Later, Lobo also threatened the BJP leadership that he can take control of all the 6 seats in the Bardez taluka ahead of elections, which could be a disaster to the BJP in the state.
“I have come to know that the BJP is not considering my ticket, although the chief minister and the party president have not spoken personally about it. Let them decide my doors are open.” he had said recently.
