Goa: Congress LoP Michael Lobo’s BJP switch confirmed?

PANAJI: Highly placed sources claimed that Congress Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo’s entry into the BJP has been approved at the highest levels and it is only a matter of time before Lobo jumps off the Congress train and into the arms of the BJP.

While Lobo denied having met any senior BJP leaders in Delhi, sources alleged that Lobo had a closed-door meeting with the top brass and everything was thrashed out.

Lobo said he had gone to Delhi to attend the Congress rally and protest against rising inflation (with the Congress) but was tightlipped when the media brought up the topic of his possible resignation from the Congress.

Meanwhile, Goa Congress President Amit Patkar said he was not even aware that Lobo was in Delhi – just shows that the duo are not on talking terms? Or was it just that Patkar was diverting attention, when he knew the whole truth.

Patkar told media persons in Goa that he was in touch with all Congress MLAs except for Lobo and Kamat (Digambar Kamat).

The Congress has filed disqualifications petitions with the Goa Assembly Speaker against Lobo and Kamat and the Speaker has issued notices to them. However, the Congress claims it has not received any notice of action by the Speaker.

Patkar also said, senior Congress leader Mukul Wasnik would be visiting Goa on 12 September and the announcement about the new LoP to replace Lobo would be made after he had met the MLAs of the party.

AICC desk in-charge for Goa Dinesh Gundu Rao will visit and hold one-to-one meetings with Congress MLAs from Goa to ascertain the mood of the Congress lawmakers.