Four Congress-turned-BJP turncoat MLAs to join TMC

PANAJI: Four former Congress MLAs who switched over to the BJP two years ago in the name of development, are likely to join the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the coming month, with Luizinho Faleiro playing the facilator and mentor.

While one MLA is from North Goa, three are from the South. The North Goa MLA who switched sides in 2019 is worried the BJP may not give him a ticket this time from his constituency and is playing it safe by joining the TMC. He wants to hedge his bets, and before he could be shown the door by the BJP, he is likely to seek solace in the arms of the TMC, probably by the end of this month or earlier.

Mamata Banerjee’s motto for Goa is “whatever it takes” and since these MLAs, with a little push and support from the TMC could be winning candidates in their respective constituencies, the TMC has no qualms about taking them into the TMC fold. Besides, they didn’t ditch the TMC, they ditched the Congress whose local leadership in Goa was literally begging to be ditched.

Didi wants to win in at least 10 to 12, if not 14 constituencies in Goa, so that she gets to be the King-maker – irrespective of which party comes second – and can form the government in Goa, with a bruised Congress and independents who will be more than happy to support the new King.