Goa: After keeping the defection pot simmering for about two months, eight of the 11 MLAs from the Congress led by top leaders Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo, his wife Delilah Lobo, will join the ruling BJP later today, as per the latest reports. The other Congress MLAs, who reached the Goa Assembly, are Kedar Naik, Rudolfo Fernandes, former Goa power minister Aleixo Sequeira, Rajesh Phal Dessai, and Sankalp Amonkar.

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This morning, the MLAs' meeting with the Speaker sparked speculations as the assembly is not in session. State BJP chief Sadanand Shet Tanavade then told news agency PTI that they are joining the party.

In 2019, the Congress was singed in a similar fashion when two-thirds of its assembly strength- 10 of 15 MLAs defected to the BJP, which is why the party this year made its candidates take a loyalty vow.

Yet, the latest defection wasn't entirely unexpected, even though in July Congress managed to keep at least seven of its MLAs with it. There was no final move by the four others, who included — Mr. Lobo, Mr. Kamat, Kedar Naik, Delilah Lobo, and Mr. Lobo's wife. 

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With the merger of the Congress’s legislature party with the BJP, the ruling party in the coastal state would then have 33 of 40 MLAs—including 20 who won the assembly election from the BJP, two from MGP, and three Independents who extended support to it to form the government in March.

The first attempt at defection was foiled in July after the Congress party accused Micheal Lobo and Kamat of engineering a defection. Disqualification petitions against them are pending.

Senior leader Mukul Wasnik had been deputed by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to handle the crisis, and he appeared to have stopped it.

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