Digambar Kamat to be next Goa CM?

Panaji: Senior Congress leader Digambar Kamat left for New Delhi on Sunday, amid speculation that he may join the ruling BJP, though the former chief minister denied any such move.

Speculations were rife that Mr Kamat may be inducted into the BJP and given a major position in the state government. Mr Kamat was second in command in the BJP till 2005 when he switched over to the Congress.

The senior Congress leader, who held reigns of the state from 2007 to 2012, left for Delhi on Sunday.

“I am leaving for Delhi on a business trip. It is purely personal,” Mr Kamat said before boarding the flight to Delhi from the Goa airport.

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar accused the BJP of spreading rumours about Mr Kamat.

“This is a game plan of the BJP’s dirty tricks department which is spreading rumours to malign the image of Mr Kamat and the Congress,” he said.

Mr Chodankar also alleged that the BJP was trying to scare its own alliance partners with such speculations.

“Mr Kamat is very much in the Congress and he will continue with the party,” he added.

Goa BJP president Vinay Tendulkar refused to comment on reports in a section of media that the issue of Mr Kamat joining the saffron party was discussed during its MLAs’ meeting held here on Saturday.

Meanwhile, amidst the recent political upheaval in Goa, Goa BJP leader Micheal Lobo confirmed that prospects of senior Congress leader Digambar Kamat joining BJP was discussed in the meeting of all BJP MLAs held on Saturday.

Lobo also said that prospects of Kamat being named the next chief minister was discussed, but mentioned that the final call would be taken by the party high command.

“Last evening at all BJP MLA meet discussion on Digambar Kamat joining BJP has taken place. The decision whether he will be the chief minister would be taken by the Central leadership,” Lobo told ANI.

The present strength of the Goa Assembly stands at 37 instead of 40. Congress is currently the single-largest party in the state with 14 MLAs.BJP has 13 legislators, including Parrikar, and its government is supported by three MLAs each of the Goa Forward Party and Maharashtra Gomantak Party, and three Independents. Two Congress MLAs have resigned after defecting to BJP