Two Congress MLAs join BJP in Goa

NEW DELHI: In a setback to the Congress in Goa, two of its MLAs on Tuesday joined the BJP, giving a boost to the saffron party's government in the state.

Subhash Shirodkar

and

Dayanand Sopte

met BJP president Amit Shah earlier today with Union minister Piyush Goyal later announcing the decision of their joining the BJP at a press conference.

Earlier in Goa, assembly speaker Pramod Sawant said Shirodkar and Sopte had sent their resignations by fax as members of the assembly to his office.

In the 40-member Goa assembly, the Parrikar government has the support of 23 MLAs. These comprise 14 BJP MLAs, three each from the Goa Forward Party and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party as well as three Independents.

The strength of the Congress, which has so far been the single largest party with 16 MLAs, will now come down to 14

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