Two Cong MLAs from Goa join BJP

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 16

In yet another setback to the Congress after Chhattisgarh, two of its legislators in Goa — Dayanand Sopte and Subhash Shirodkar — on Tuesday met BJP chief Amit Shah and switched sides.

The strategic advantage for the BJP comes amid attempts to hold on to the coastal state and ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar battling a pancreatic ailment. The Congress had 16 legislators in the 40-member Goa Assembly.

With Sopte and Shirodkar changing sides, the Congress has lost its strategic advantage in the state as the single-largest party. Both the BJP and the Congress are now on a par with 14 MLAs each. The party is also expected to soon announce the name of the new CM to take over from Parrikar. Apparently, Vishwajit Pratapsingh Rane, a cabinet Minister in the Parrikar government and son of Pratapsingh Raoji Rane, a former CM and also a sitting Congress MLA, is among the front runners for the post.

Shirodkar and Sopte are men with deep grassroots presence. For the BJP looking for a second line of leaders, the duo is expected to provide that advantage. “Sopte and Shirodkar have grassroot connections and will strengthen the BJP,” senior leader Piyush Goyal said.

Now, some more Congress MLAs are expected to follow suit. “We have joined the BJP today. We expect two-three more legislators to come, not today but in the coming days,” Shirodkar said.

Their joining in will firm up the position of the BJP, help it deal with allies clamouring for meaty portfolio in a better way. The move would of course dent Congress’ bid to form a coalition government. It recently  requested the President to direct the Goa Governor  to invite them to form government. 

New CM likely

• In the 40-member House, the Manohar Parrikar government has the support of 23 MLAs — 14 from BJP, three each from the Goa Forward Party and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, and three Independents
• The strength of the Congress, which has so far been the single-largest party with 16 MLAs, will now come down to 14
• The BJP is also expected to soon announce the name of the new CM to take over from Parrikar