Goa BJP plays down Michael Lobo's exit
Gomantak Times
Playing down former BJP leader Michael Lobo’s decision to quit BJP, Goa BJP state President said Sadanand Shet Tanavade has said that he was waiting for Lobo to leave.
"We already knew that Michael Lobo would leave the party, so there is no shock for us or the party. It was good that he left BJP. Michael had left us long back, he was only present physically, hence we don't treat his exit as a setback," said Tanavade.
Tanavade further said that Lobo was interfering a lot in Mapusa and Siolim areas and expressed confidence BJP will win both the seats in Siolim and Calangute.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said "few defections cannot deter our agenda of Good Governance".
"Bharatiya Janata Party is a big family that continues to serve the motherland with full devotion! A few defections, to fulfil the agenda of greed and personal interests cannot deter our agenda of Good Governance.
Goan people have seen BJP’s governance and development model for a decade and I am sure that they will give us another term in their service. Jai Hind, Jai Goa," Sawant tweeted.
Ports Minister Michael Lobo on Monday resigned from the party. He has also quit as minister and MLA. Lobo is likely to join the Congress.
Lobo is the first minister to resign from the Pramod Sawant-led BJP government and the third MLA to quit the BJP ahead of the election.
After turning in his resignation, Lobo said, “Today’s decision is all about the coming election. My association with the BJP has been 15 years long, so on one hand I feel very sad and pained. The BJP does not want a worker like me. It should not happen that they throw you out. You should exit in a nice way.”
