Goa: Congress removes Michael Lobo as leader of oppn after rumors of him leaving the party to join BJP
All India Congress Committee’s Goa in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “Michael Lobo immediately removed from the position of Leader of Opposition of Goa. A new leader will be elected. Whatever action has to be taken by law against this kind of defection, anti-party work will follow."
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Panaji, July 11: Congress removed Michael Lobo from the position of the leader of opposition in the Goa state legislative assembly just hours after rumours of him leaving the party to join BJP. All India Congress Committee’s Goa in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao made the announcement.
Rao also said that a “conspiracy was hatched by some of our own leaders with the BJP" to weaken the party and “engineer defections". “This conspiracy was led by two of our own leaders — LoP Michael Lobo and Digambar Kamat."
In Goa’s 40-member house, the NDA, which is led by BJP, has the support of 25 MLAs, while the Congress has 11 MLAs. Reports say that 7-10 Congress MLAs gathered at a Margao hotel in Goa and vowed to remain united amidst concerns of another split in Goa Congress.
There are now 11 Congress-affiliated MLAs in the Goa legislature, and it has been reported that some of them may switch to the ruling BJP. The suspicion was directed towards Michael Lobo who had switched sides from the BJP to the Congress just before the elections. He was rumoured to be in touch with BJP leaders.
Rao said, “Michael Lobo immediately removed from the position of Leader of Opposition of Goa. A new leader will be elected. Whatever action has to be taken by law against this kind of defection, anti-party work will follow. Let’s see how many people will stay/move. 5 of our MLAs are here, we’re in touch with some more MLAs &they’ll be along with us.”
He further said, “Congress party will not be disheartened or weakened. We will take up this issue in a more aggressive manner. We will take it to the people this betrayal that is being engineered by 2 people for the sake of power & personal gain.”
Rao also said that a “conspiracy was hatched by some of our own leaders with the BJP" to weaken the party and “engineer defections". “This conspiracy was led by two of our own leaders — LoP Michael Lobo and Digambar Kamat."
Earlier, Lobo denied the rumours of him and other Congress leaders joining BJP. He said, “These are all rumours. There’s nothing as such. Assembly (session) is starting & one rumor has to be spread by somebody or the other. I’ve not been told, if I’m told I’ll tell you first.”
There are now 11 Congress-affiliated MLAs in the Goa legislature, and it has been reported that some of them may switch to the ruling BJP. The suspicion was directed towards Michael Lobo who had switched sides from the BJP to the Congress just before the elections. He was rumoured to be in touch with BJP leaders.