E-Paper
Congress seeks action on Lobo, Kamat over Goa ‘conspiracy’
At a press conference, state Goa desk in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao accused the BJP of hatching a conspiracy in collusion with Kamat and Lobo to weaken the principal opposition party, even as Sawant said the visit was to discuss pending work.
The Congress in Goa on Monday moved a disqualification petition against MLAs Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo for “anti-party activities”, even as the legislators, who went incommunicado a day before, claimed they were still with the party and made no attempts to split the state unit to merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Kamat, however, did not join a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) to elect a new CLP leader later in the day.
Five out of 11 Congress MLAs, led by former chief minister Kamat, leader of opposition Lobo, his wife Delilah and two others, Kedar Naik and Rajesh Faldesai, on Sunday skipped a party meeting at night and some of them visited the official residence of chief minister Pramod Sawant, triggering speculation that they could cross over to the ruling BJP.
At a press conference, state Goa desk in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao accused the BJP of hatching a conspiracy in collusion with Kamat and Lobo to weaken the principal opposition party, even as Sawant said the visit was to discuss pending work. The Congress also announced that a group of MLAs had revolted and promised action against them. Lobo was removed as leader of opposition with immediate effect.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, state Congress chief Amit Patkar said Kamat and Lobo’s “anti-party activities” amounted to them voluntarily giving up their membership of the party, as a result of which the disqualification petition was moved before speaker Ramesh Tawadkar’s office.
“We are filing a disqualification petition against two senior leaders because they have voluntarily given up membership of the party. There is a Supreme Court judgment of 2020, which says that any anti-party activity amounts to voluntarily giving up their membership,” he said.
Patkar’s remarks came even as Kamat and Lobo said they were hurt by the party’s allegations against them.
“I have seen the video of the press conference of Dinesh Gundu Rao. I am shocked, stunned and it has hurt me beyond words,” Kamat said.
“I have told him that we are strongly with the Congress… On the basis of whatever was happening, they have filed (the petition). It is up to them to decide on the petition,” Lobo said.
Reacting to the clarifications, Patkar said the duo had changed their stance as their alleged move to create a split in the party had failed.
“There was a move to split the Congress party in Goa. They (the two leaders) couldn’t attain the numbers (of legislators). They couldn’t get the 2/3rd numbers (to avoid the anti-defection law provisions), which is why their stance must have changed today,” Patkar said.
“But the fact is across the country… you saw what happened in Maharashtra, they wanted to repeat the same thing in Goa in terms of money power, muscle powers… in terms of all the (central enforcement and investigation) agencies. We made sure that the BJP is not successful in Goa and we stopped that defection yesterday,” he added.
The state Congress chief also claimed to have the support of seven of its MLAs. Barring Kamat, all 10 MLAs, including Lobo, joined the CLP meeting later in the day.
Patkar stressed on the need to “fight for democracy”.
“We have to save democracy. The BJP is trying to finish democracy. They don’t want it. They want to rule without opposition. So, their attempts were there and we have put all the facts on record,” he said.
There is evidence to show there was an attempt to split the Congress party in the state, Patkar alleged. “The Congress as a party has decided that it’s time that we save democracy in the country. Else, there will be no opposition left in any state,” he said.
State BJP president Sadanand Shet Tanavade denied any role in the latest unrest in the opposition Congress.
“We have no role. It is an (internal) issue of the Congress. Nobody has told me they want to join the BJP. Congress will make a lot of allegations. Tell the Congress president to look after his own responsibilities of taking care of his own MLAs and not make allegations against us,” Tanavade said.
However, BJP general secretary CT Ravi, who is also the party’s Goa in charge, claimed all Congress MLAs are ready to leave the party and join the BJP.
“11 MLAs of Goa Congress are ready to leave Congress and join us as soon as possible. Many leaders and legislators of Congress are in contact with the BJP and will hopefully join the BJP shortly,” he said.
On Ravi’s remarks, former state Congress president Girish Chodankar said the BJP should decide whether to officially concede its role behind the rebellion.
“On one hand, the state unit of the party says that it has nothing to do with the Congress rebellion and on the other hand, it says Congress MLAs want to join them. It is making contradictory statements. The people know what to conclude from this,” he said.
In the 40-member assembly, the BJP has 20 seats, one short of majority. The party enjoys the support of three independents and two members of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party.
