Big blow to Congress in Goa, former CM Luizinho Faleiro resigned after praising Mamta; Will join TMC

In Goa, senior Congress leader and former CM Luizinho Faleiro have resigned from the party. There is speculation that he may join Trinamool Congress. Just before resigning from Congress and MLA post, he praised Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He said that Mamata is the only streetfighter who can give a tough fight to the BJP. This political development in Goa comes at a time when TMC has announced to contest of elections in the southern state a day earlier.

Faleiro praised West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, saying the country needs a leader like her to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Faleiro was an MLA from the Navelim assembly seat. He was made the head of the campaign committee of the Goa Congress because of the state elections to be held next year. Faleiro submitted his resignation to Speaker Rajesh Patnekar.

With Faleiro's resignation, the strength of Congress legislators in the 40-member house has come down to four. The Congress had won 17 seats in the 2017 state assembly elections, but several MLAs later resigned from the party. In July 2019, 10 MLAs left the party and joined the ruling BJP.

TMC will contest elections in Goa

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday announced that his party is going to contest elections in Goa as well. Seeking votes for Mamata Banerjee in Bhawanipore, the TMC general secretary said, "TMC is the only party which is fighting with full bravery and without bowing before outsiders. We have reached Tripura and Assam. We will also go to Goa in the coming days. So prepare yourself. We are ready to fight politically.