9 rebel Congress MLAs in Goa may join BJP, midnight meeting with Speaker; Sonia sent Wasnik to Panaji

The Congress high command has become active late Sunday night to prevent the MLAs from rebelling in Goa. Sonia Gandhi instructed Mukul Wasnik to go to Panaji to talk to the MLAs. Wasnik reached Panaji in the night itself and has started talks with the MLAs.

Here, Congress has claimed that the Speaker held a meeting with the rebel MLAs in the hotel late at night. However, the number of MLAs who attended the meeting has not been revealed.

Today\'s big updates...

The new leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Goa will be elected today. Congress observer Mukul Wasnik will also attend the meeting.

Goa Assembly Speaker announces election for the post of Deputy Speaker

A notification has been cancelled. Voting was to be held on July 12 during the upcoming monsoon assembly session.

2 big statements amid Goa Congress crisis

1. Dinesh Gundurao - Some of our leaders conspired with the BJP that the Congress party in Goa should be weakened and defected.

2. Some industrialists, mine owners, and coal mafia are allegedly offering Rs 30-40 crore to Congress MLAs to defect.

Michael Lobo removed as Leader of Opposition

Congress in-charge Dinesh Gundurao said that Michael Lobo has been removed from the post of Leader of Opposition. Amid political developments, Lobo\'s wife had come to meet Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. However, Lobo is yet to make an official announcement about leaving Congress.

BJP is away from 1 seat for the majority

There are 40 seats in the Goa Legislative Assembly. Congress has 11 and BJP has 20 MLAs. Apart from this, Maharashtra Gomantak Party has 2 MLAs and 3 Independents. According to information received from sources, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari is going to Goa.

No party got a majority in the state in the 2022 Goa assembly elections. BJP got 20 seats out of the total 40 in the state, while the majority figure is 21. In this way, BJP was just one step away from a full majority in Goa. However, BJP leaders formed the government in the state with the help of independents.

Only 3 MLAs reached the Congress meeting

Congress has 11 MLAs in Goa. Amidst speculations of rebellion, the party had called an emergency meeting of all the MLAs at around 7 pm on Sunday. It was attended, Dinesh Rao, and Amit Patkar. Digambar Kamat, Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo, Alexio Sequeira, Kedar Naik, Rajesh Faldesai, Carlos Alvares, Elton Dacosta, Yuri Alemo do not attend the meeting.

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