After 10 MLAs Switch Camp, Goa Congress Chief Girish Chodankar says BJP Wants 'One Nation One Party'

Panaji: Reacting to 10 out of 15 party MLAs joining the ruling BJP, Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar said the BJP's goal was to create "one nation one party" situation in the country.

A group of 10 Congress MLAs in Goa, led by Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Chandrakant Kavlekar, merged with the ruling BJP Wednesday evening, increasing the saffron party's strength to 27 in the 40-seat house.

In a statement, Chodankar alleged that Congress MLAs joined the BJP after falling prey to blackmailing or allurements. Instead of "one nation one election" (which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is advocating), what the BJP really wants is "one nation one party", he said, adding the BJP has "exposed its intense insecurity" about its coalition partner by poaching Congress legislators.

Despite having enough numbers in the Assembly, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's "unethical act" of luring Congress MLAs displayed his fear of facing a united opposition in the upcoming Assembly session, he said.

"The entire episode reflects the utter misuse of power adopted by the BJP which is full of arrogance and was finding itself on a sticky wicket after certain MLAs within its camp were unhappy with the government," Chodankar said.

It was also a lesson for alliance partners who went against the mandate in 2017 (when the Congress was the single-largest party but failed to form a government) and installed the BJP in power, he said.

The development will not go down well with people who will defeat the BJP in the next polls, he said.