In Goa, 2 MGP MLAs join BJP

March 27, 2019 08:21

Two of the three Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party MLAs in Goa early Wednesday merged their party's legislative wing with the Bharatiya Janata Party, which now has 14 legislators in the 40-member state assembly.

Legislators Manohar Ajgaonkar and Dipak Pawaskar gave a letter to merge the MGP legislature party with the BJP to officiating Goa assembly speaker Michael Lobo at 1:45 am.

However, Sudin Dhavalikar, the third MGP MLA, has not signed the letter.

While Ajgaonkar is tourism minister, Dhavalikar is the transport minister in the BJP-led state government in Goa.

As two out of the three MLAs have merged the legislative wing, they are saved from inviting anti-defection law, which makes it mandatory that two-third of the strength should agree for merger.

The legislators broke away from the MGP and formed a group, MGP (two) on Tuesday. They have now merged the legislative unit with the BJP.

Lobo confirmed that he received the letter at 1:45 am from both the MLAs for merging their legislature party with the BJP.

The signature of Dhavalikar is not there on the letter, he said.

The mid-night political drama has increased the strength of the BJP from 12 to 14 in the 40-member House, bringing them on par with opposition Congress which has an equal number of MLAs on the floor.

The MGP is an alliance partner of the BJP in Goa since 2012.

Pawaskar said the resolution to split from the MGP and create another faction was taken by him and Ajgaonkar at 5 pm Tuesday.

After adopting the resolution, we approached Chief Minister Pramod Sawant with the letter, who instructed us to submit it to officiating Speaker Michael Lobo," he said.

The letter was finally handed over to Lobo at 1:45 am Wednesday, Pawaskar said. -- PTI

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