In a sudden turn of events, Goa witnessed another bout of political musical chair as eight out of 11 Congress MLAs – tTwo-thirds of the party’s strength in the assembly went to the BJP one in Defection replay in 2019When 10 MLAs jumped.
The Congress said the joining of its eight MPs, including former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, is a part of this. The ruling party’s ‘Operation Mud (Mud)’, which the party said was fast-tracked to divert attention away from the success of the Bharat Jodi Yatra. This move came only a few months later 37 Congress candidates pledge allegiance Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in the presence of Congress leader in February’s assembly election, vowed not to defect to other parties, regardless of the election result.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that all the eight Congressmen joined the BJP unconditionally. The CM claimed that what started in Goa would soon be seen across the country as Congress leaders would leave their party to join the BJP.
The BJP, which had 20 MLAs in the 40-seat assembly, has now increased its strength to 28, while the ruling alliance now has the support of 33 MLAs, including two from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and three independents. The opposition has been reduced to just seven MLAs – three from the Congress, one from the Goa Forward Party, two from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and one from the Revolutionary Goa Party (RGP).
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