In a setback for Congress, two of its MLAs in Goa have resigned from the party and joined BJP following their meeting with BJP chief Amit Shah on Tuesday.
Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte met BJP president Amit Shah in Delhi and later said they will be joining the party.
With 16 lawmakers, Congress was the single largest party in the 40-member assembly and with Shirodkar and Sopte leaving the party, its numbers depletes to 14.
“I received resignation from 2 Congress MLAs – Dayanand Sopte & Subhash Shirodkar. They confirmed they’re doing this willingly, without any pressure. I accepted the resignations. The process will be sent to all members of House, Guv & EC. The strength of the assembly now is 38. Party strength is BJP (14), Congress (14), MGP (3), Goa Forward 3, NCP 1, independent 3. We have informed EC, it is up them as to when there should be a by-poll etc, ” Goa Assembly speaker, Pramod Sawant told ANI.
Delhi: Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte join BJP in the presence of Union Minister Piyush Goyal. The two Goa MLAs resigned from Congress earlier today pic.twitter.com/EgHdmI7YvN
— ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2018
Tuesday’s exit of two legislators from the Congress brings down the assembly’s strength to 38, and the majority mark to 19.
The Parrikar government has the support of 23 MLAs- 14 BJP MLAs, three each from the Goa Forward Party and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party as well as three Independents.