8 MLAs OF GOA CONGRESS, GOING TO JOIN BJP :Ruling BJP : TODAY 

Congress MLAs meet Chief Minister and Vidhan Sabha Speaker; given their numbers, they could keep away from disqualification underneath the anti-defection law.

Panaji: Barely  months after the Congress appeared to have staved off a defection bid, 8 of its 11 MLAs led via pinnacle leaders Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo joined the ruling BJP, lowering the opposition birthday celebration to just 3 members. The mass defection is hugely embarrassing for the Congress inside the center of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra (Unite India March), at which the BJP has been taking jibes: "Jodo (Unite) your birthday party first." 

"It is Congress chhodo (give up Congress), BJP ko jodo," quipped Michael Lobo as the MLAs announced their transfer. 

With eight MLAs breaking away as a set — that is  thirds of the party energy — they are able to avoid disqualification below the anti-defection regulation. 

A Congress best friend, Goa Forward Party leader Vijai Sardesai reacted with scorn, pronouncing the defecting MLAs are "symbols of pure evil" who are pursuing "greed for wealth and starvation for energy... In defiance of Almighty God".

Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo have been at the centre of the switchover speculation in July too, and the Congress had even asked the speaker to disqualify them under the anti-defection law. The party removed Michael Lobo as Leader of Opposition, however no replacement turned into named.

This morning, the MLAs' meeting with the Speaker spark off the speculation as the meeting is not in session. State BJP leader Sadanand Shet Tanavade then informed news enterprise PTI that they are joining the party.

Goa Congress splintered in a comparable style in 2019, when  thirds of its meeting electricity — 10 of 15 MLAs — defected to the BJP, that is why the birthday party this yr made its applicants take a loyalty vow inside the presence of Rahul Gandhi.

Yet, the brand new defection wasn't totally surprising, despite the fact that in July the Congress controlled to hold at the least seven of its MLAs with it. There changed into no very last flow by using the four others, such as — except Mr Lobo and Mr Kamat — Kedar Naik and Delilah Lobo, Mr Lobo's wife.

Senior leader Mukul Wasnik were deputed by means of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to address the disaster, and he seemed to have stopped it.

Or no longer quite, going by using what's came about nowadays.

In July, Mr Kamat, a former leader minister, had said he changed into "taken aback and greatly surprised" on the allegations of leading a division. Even Michael Lobo, who turned into in the BJP earlier than becoming a member of the Congress beforehand of elections in advance this yr, had claimed there has been "no communicate of any department".

In the Goa assembly, the BJP has a majority of 25 in the House of 40 — 20 MLAs of its very own, two from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, and three independents. This will now move up to 33. The Congress has 3 left, plus one from the Goa Forward Party. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has  MLAs and the Revolutionary Goans Party has one.