10 Goa Cong MLAs formally join BJP, say PM's work impressed them

The ten Goa Congress MLAs who split from the Congress yesterday, were formally inducted into the BJP today. Speaking to ETV Bharat, the MLAs said that they took the decision for the development of the state and were impressed by the work of PM Modi and CM Pramod Sawant.

New Delhi: Ten Goa Congress MLAs, who shifted allegiance to BJP on Wednesday night, formally joined the party here on Thursday ahead of induction of some of them in the state cabinet.

They joined BJP in the presence of its Working President JP Nadda and Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.

Speaking exclusively to ETV Bharat, Chandrakant Kavlekar said that the 10 MLAs had done nothing wrong by switching allegiance as they saw good developmental work being done under Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Echoing similar views, Atanasio Monserrate said that the ten MLAs had to resort to the move as they wanted development for their respective constituencies and also the state as a whole.

Dismissing charges of horse-trading, Jennifer Monserrate said that the MLAs had done so on their free will and that the Congress was free to approach the court. She also said that the disarray in the Congress ranks was partially the reason for their switch.

According to reports, the MLAs will return to Goa on July 12 as the swearing-in ceremony of new ministers will take place tomorrow.