Defection a common Phenomenon

Goa Congress Legilature merges into BJP

Eight of the 11 Congress MLAs in Goa have switched to the governing BJP seven months after making a “loyalty pledge” at temples, churches, and mosques. In an effort to persuade voters and the party leadership that they would not change parties after the elections, they had even taken an oath in Rahul Gandhi’s presence.

The anti-defection law prohibits the disqualification of MLAs from a party if two-thirds of its lawmakers join another party. The Congress party is completely destroyed, with no chance of being disqualified after having only 3 MLAs left in the 40-member Goa state assembly. Former CM Digambar Kamat appeared to suggest that his deceit had received divine approval, and that they had timed their move to coincide with the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra, in which the Opposition party has a significant investment and which has been enjoying broad public support.

In response, the Congress played with words and referred to the BJP’s “Operation Lotus” in Goa as “Operation Keechad” (mud). The BJP is allegedly orchestrating these splits in a last-ditch effort after being discouraged by the success of the Bharat Jodo yatra, according to the Congress, which claimed that it was unaffected by the recent exodus. Despite the fact that the first attempt at a defection was thwarted back in July, which ultimately resulted in Lobo’s removal from the LoP post, a helpless Congress was powerless to stop it from happening again this time. 10 of the 15 MLAs for the Congress left for the BJP in 2019. This time, the defection additionally represented the merger of two Goan legislative parties.

In Goa, the BJP and its allies already hold a majority with 25 MLAs, five more than the assembly’s required minimum. The opposition has just seven MLAs left, compared to the BJP’s 33.