Blow to Congress in Goa as two MLAs quit, cross over to BJP

The BJP has 14 MLAs and the backing of three legislators of the Goa Forward Party, three of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, three Independents and external support from Churchill Alemao of the NCP — that adds up to 23 plus 1 NCP.

Read | Ex-Goa CM Parsekar upset over Cong MLA’s entry in BJP, says he was not taken into confidence

The Congress MLA count was reduced to 14 after Sopte and Shirodkar sent their resignation papers to Speaker Pramod Sawant. Later in the day, Sawant said it is now up to the Election Commission to announce dates for the bypolls for the two seats — the House strength is now 38.

Sopte represented Mandrem in north Goa while Shirodkar was MLA from Shiroda in south Goa.

Until Tuesday morning, the Congress had been to the Governor five times, claiming majority in the House and seeking a floor test.

Congress Goa in-charge Dr A Chellakumar told reporters: “I got a message that (Goa Health Minister) Vishwajit Rane was the man who had convinced and taken them to Delhi and bargained with the BJP high command that if he were to get the two Congress MLAs, he should be made Chief Minister.”

Late Tuesday, after the BJP announced that the two MLAs had joined the party, he said: “The BJP has shown that they do not want to run a government democratically. They are desperate for power. People from Goa have seen it. When they formed a government in 2017, they did not have a mandate. They did it via the back door… Despite having a government, there is no governance.”