Goa Cong divided over Kamat's continuation as CM

The Congress in Goa is divided over the continuation of chief minister Digambar Kamat. The division came to the fore when Congress in-charge of Goa affairs Jagmeet Brar met party leaders to elicit their views.

The Congress in Goa is divided over the continuation of chief minister Digambar Kamat. The division came to the fore when Congress in-charge of Goa affairs Jagmeet Brar met party leaders to elicit their views. A sizeable section of legislators was in favour of immediate change of guard given that the state was going to polls in a few months.

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They argued that allegations against Kamat, who has been holding the mining portfolio for 12 years, and some ministers will 'hurt' the party in polls.

But there were few who strongly backed Kamat and claimed that any move to dislodge him at the moment will "strengthen the opposition besides lending credibility" to the allegations of illegal mining against the Congress ministers.

The party has maintained it will wait for the reports of the PAC, headed by BJP leader Manohar Parrikar, and the Justice MB Shah Commission before arriving at any decision.

"Any action against the CM or whosoever found involved in the illegal mining will be taken only after studying the reports," a senior party leader said. While the PAC will table its report by October 5, the Shah panel may file report on October 25.