Temporary setback, will reattempt merger: Congress breakaway MLA

PANAJI: Congress may have gone into a firefighting mode and tried to stave off the merger plans of a group of MLAs led by former CM Digambar Kamat with BJP for the time being, but an MLA from the breakaway group told TOI that they were confident that it would happen soon.
“It is a temporary blip. We will reattempt the merger and it will be done soon. One more MLA is ready to support our group,” the MLA said.
He said they already have seven MLAs on their side and are trying to garner support from one of the four remaining MLAs.
The MLA said the merger would have happened on Sunday itself but for one of the MLAs from North Goa backing out at the last minute, while another MLA was stuck at the Congress House, where AICC’s Goa in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao had convened a press conference.
This left the breakaway group with six MLAs, two short of eight legislators, which would have been the stipulated two-third of the party’s legislative strength to join BJP.
“We don’t know why the MLA backed out after committing. Probably, he was worried that he may be unable to explain to his supporters why he has decided to shift. The other MLA, who was stuck in the Congress House is firmly with us and will move along with the group to BJP,” the MLA said.
Sources said the merger was likely to happen before July 18 (Monday), when the presidential election is scheduled. BJP is comfortably placed in the 40-member House with 20 MLAs of its own and has the support of two MGP members and three Independents.
Reacting to the entire political development in the state, chief minister Pramod Sawant said: “We have a stable government and we do not want any more MLAs.”