Goa Congress split warded off, for now

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 11

The Congress has averted a potential split of the Goa unit with five “missing MLAs” attending the Assembly session that commenced today and the party writing to the Speaker for disqualification of former Leader of the Opposition Michael Lobo and ex-CM Digamber Kamat.

All well with the party: lobo

Former Leader of the Opposition Michael Lobo said he was with the Congress, adding everything was fine with the party. Other MLAs Digamber Kamat and Rajesh Faldesai also professed loyalty to the party.

The party has accused them of attempting to split the Goa Congress through defections.

Lobo and Kamat, along with MLAs Kedar Naik, Rajesh Faldesai and Delialah Lobo, had skipped a press conference on Sunday.

Goa Congress incharge Gundu Rao had, on Sunday, said the party was unable to establish contact with five MLAs out of 11 and had accused Lobo and Kamat of a “conspiracy to split”.

The Congress had also removed Lobo as the Leader of the Opposition yesterday.

Today, even as the five MLAs came back and said “all was well and they had informed the state unit of their unavailability for the Sunday’s press conference”, Gundu Rao said: “It’s not just the BJP, which is trying to split the Congress in Goa, but also the mining and coal lobby. Big business and the government want to create an Opposition-free situation in Goa. The state Congress will continue its fight against the disruptive forces.”

Lobo, meanwhile, said everything was fine with the party. Kamat and Faldesai, too, professed loyalty to the party and said they were away on Sunday due to prior personal commitments.

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