It seems that by the end of Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi would realise PM Modi’s vision of Congress-mukt Bharat. Even before Congress could find answers to the rebellion G-18 camp (G-23 after exits), it suffered a massive jolt in the state of Goa. Now it looks that with each day, Congress is inching closer to becoming a fringe private-run enterprise.
Mass desertions in Goa
Congress party has suffered a massive setback in the Goa assembly. 8 out of its 11 Congress MLAs have fled the ship to join the saffron party, BJP in Goa. After this mass defection, Congress’ strength has come down drastically to just 3 MLAs in the 40-member Goa Assembly. Now, BJP commands a strong majority with 28 MLAs on its side.
Goa | 8 Congress MLAs including Digambar Kamat, Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo, Rajesh Phaldesai, Kedar Naik, Sankalp Amonkar, Aleixo Sequeira & Rudolf Fernandes join BJP in presence of CM Pramod Sawant pic.twitter.com/uxp7YaZAUN
— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2022
Also Read: Rahul’s Bharat Jodo Yatra is more of a Hindu Apman Yatra. Here is the proof
It is important to note that these 8 Congress MLAs include two former Chief Ministers of Goa namely Michael Lobo and Digambar Kamat who have a vast experience in governance and influence on grass root politics.
Former Congress MLA, Michael Lobo stated that they have joined BJP to strengthen PM Modi and Goa CM Pramod Sawant. Mockingly Lobo took a jibe at Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra and gave a slogan ‘Congress chhodo, BJP ko jodo‘. (Leave Congress, Unite BJP)
Goa | 8 Congress MLAs join BJP
We have joined BJP to strengthen the hands of PM Modi & CM Pramod Sawant… 'Congress chhodo, BJP ko jodo': says former Congress MLA, Michael Lobo pic.twitter.com/LMSEAjqUXb
— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2022
Goa CM Pramod Sawant welcomed all the newly joined leaders. Sawant too took a jibe at Congress’ national rally and stressed that people all over the nation are jumping the sinking ship of Congress to join BJP.
He said, “I welcome the 8 MLAs who have joined BJP today. Congress started the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, but I think ‘Congress Chhodo Yatra‘ started in Goa. People from across the country are leaving Congress and joining BJP.” (sic)
BJP’s National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala made a sarcastic tweet on the ‘wise’ leadership of Rahul Gandhi. He made fun of the latest development of mass defection in the Goa unit of Congress party.
Go Goa Gone pic.twitter.com/PBm5eIalMB
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) September 14, 2022
Also Read: How Congress is spending millions to make Rahul Gandhi look an Aam Bhartiya
Earlier in the day, Goa Congress Legislature Party had passed a resolution to merge with BJP. Reportedly, Leader of Opposition Michael Lobo moved the resolution which was seconded by Former CM and MLA Digambar Kamat.
This mass defection in Congress’ Goa unit is another such incident within a short span of three years. Earlier, in July 2019, 10 Congress MLAs had defected to the BJP.
The discontent within the party was known beforehand
Earlier in July 2022, Congress had accused former Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo of trying to engineer a two-third split in the party. Congress’ Goa in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao alleged that BJP was buying out Congress MLAs.
Also Read: Dear Congress, sack your election strategist at once!
Soon, Congress tried to sideline both the Former CM. It took disciplinary action for not toeing the line set by the party High command sitting in Delhi. It removed Michael Lobo as the Leader of Opposition in the Goa Assembly. The party also filed petitions before the Speaker to disqualify both the MLAs Michael Lobo and Digambar Kamat for anti-party activities.
Each passing day, Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra is taking hits from its own disgruntled leaders. The Congress party’s inability to hear dissenting voices and redress them properly is costing it dearly. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Congress should pay heed to Ghulam Nabi Azad’s advice that it should focus first on Congress Jodo Yatra rather than indulging in a facade in the name of a national rally to unite India which as per learned Politician Rahul Gandhi is not a nation but a union of state. It should hold its clan together otherwise this rally of Congress Chodo and opposition todo will only amplify due to the incompetence of the grand old party.
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