Goa Election: Goa minister Michael Lobo quits BJP, likely to join Congress today

Goa's Science and Technology minister Michael Lobo quit the BJP today, just a month before polls in the state, saying it is "no longer a party for the common man". The BJP said "a few defections" driven by greed would not hurt the party at all. Lobo is also about to resign as a member of the assembly and may join the Congress on Monday Evening. Lobo has a stronghold in North Goa. He defeated Congress candidate Joseph Robert Sequeira in the year 2017 assembly elections.

Talking to the media, Michael Lobo said, "I have resigned as the minister of Goa. I hope that the people of Calangute assembly constituency will respect my decision. I am also resigning from the post of MLA. It remains to be seen what steps I take next. I am in touch with other parties. I am angry due to the decisions of the party and the party workers are also disappointed. "Voters told me that the BJP is no more a party of the common people," he said, defending his move.

Michael Lobo's exit may impact the BJP in Goa's Bardesh, which has six assembly seats including his own constituency Calangute. On Sunday, Mr Lobo was seen at the launch of the campaign of a Congress candidate from Saligao, the constituency near Calangute.

Earlier on Sunday, independent MLA Prasad Gaonkar had resigned from the membership of the assembly. He had said that he would join the Congress. Gaonkar, an MLA from Sangum constituency submitted his resignation to the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly. He said, “I have resigned from the membership of the assembly. I will soon join Congress party to contest from Sangam constituency."

After Lobo's resignation, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the Bharatiya Janata Party is a big family which is engaged in the service of the motherland with dedication. Without naming anyone, he wrote on Twitter, “The spirit of defection, greed and personal interests of some people cannot harm our agenda of good governance. The people of Goa have been watching the development model of the BJP government for a decade and I am sure they will give us a chance to serve us once. Jai Hind, Jai Goa."

Congress on Sunday released the second list of names of 7 candidates for the assembly elections. Earlier last month, the names of eight candidates were announced. Congress' Goa unit president Girish Chodankar said on Saturday that his party would win the state assembly elections to be held on February 14. Senior Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao said the candidates of its alliance partner Goa Forward Party will contest the Fatorda (South Goa) and Mayem (North Goa) seats.