"Those Handpicked By Manohar Parrikar Sidelined": Goa Ex-Minister Lobo
NDTV
"Nobody will leave the BJP which rules in the Centre and the state. Nobody will leave and join a party which has one MLA," Michael Lobo said.
Former Goa minister Michael Lobo, who moved from the BJP to Congress earlier this month, has contended that there is no place in the party any more for people handpicked by the state's three-time Chief Minister, the late Manohar Parrikar. The BJP claim that he left because the party was not ready to give a ticket to his wife is a "blatant lie", he said.
"Nobody will leave the BJP which rules in the Centre and the state. Nobody will leave and join a party which has one MLA," he said, explaining his decision to join the Congress, which from having 17 MLAs in 2017, had depleted to one.
"All those handpicked by Manohar Parrikar have been sidelined... they are being kept in one corner," he said, alleging that there is "a coterie in the Goa BJP" which is "humiliating" veteran leaders so they leave.
As example, he cited the case of Datta Prasad Naik, the leader of Bhandari Samaj, who quit yesterday. Mr Naik was removed as the party spokesperson last year.
