Former Goa CM & Congress Leader Digambar Kamat To Join BJP: Sources

Currently, BJP has 20 MLAs and needs just one for the Majority mark of 21.

Former Goa CM Digambar Kamat (Getty Images)

New Delhi: In a major setback to the Congress party, Goa former Congress CM and current MLA Digambar Kamat is likely to join BJP, according to the sources.

It was Digambar Kamat who overthrew Manohar Parrikar's government in Goa in early 2000 and became the Congress chief minister of the state. 

If reports are to be believed, senior Congress leader Digambar Kamat may once again join BJP in Goa. It is also being said that he can be given the responsibility of the Ministry of Power.

Congress is not in power in Goa for 10 years. While Kamat has been the Leader of the Opposition for three years. He is considered the biggest face of Congress in Goa. He was the Energy Minister in the government of former Chief Minister Pratap Singh Rane. In 2005, he joined Congress and in 2007 he became CM. There have also been allegations of corruption against Kamat. Between 2007 and 2012, when he was the CM, the Justice MB Shah Commission had accused him in a mining scam of Rs 35,000 crore. In 2014, he was also questioned in this regard.

A seven-time MLA, Kamat was the Congress frontrunner for the post of CM in the 2022 Goa Assembly elections. The 68-year-old registered a major victory in the elections from his stronghold Margao.

After emerging as the single largest party in 2017, Congress fared poorly in this year's assembly elections. The BJP, which had toppled the Grand Old Party to form the government last time, ensured power for the third time in a row with 28 seats in the 40-member house.

Currently, BJP has 20 MLAs and needs just one for the Majority mark of 21. As of now MGP and three Independents have extended support.