the goan I network
CANACONA
Rumours that Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes is likely to resign as the Congress legislator and join the BJP quickly spread all over the taluka, but Fernandes was quick to dismiss the rumours as baseless.
The rumours were fuelled by a report in a news portal that Fernandes was to join the BJP late Monday evening and the report went viral across the taluka.
It was even rumoured that a certain amount has been agreed with the MLA to resign from the Congress and join BJP.
Some rumours went even a step further by suggesting that Fernandes has been given an offer with a condition that he would not contest further elections, but would be suitably rewarded with a corporation of his choice, leaving the BJP to field its own candidate and win the seat to increase its tally in the Goa Assembly.
The rumours were further strengthened after ex-minister Ramesh Tawadkar, who was recently re-admitted into the BJP, was elevated as the party’s vice-president.
A BJP leader from the Canacona Block has even posted a WhatsApp message soon after Parrikar’s demise that the Canacona MLA would join the BJP and that, another bypoll was likely at Canacona.
There were some rumours that Fernandes had also air-dashed to Delhi and after meeting with BJP national leaders, had fixed his exit from the Congress in exchange for an offer.
“There is nothing of that sort. Let them make viral whatever rumours they want. There is no such thing that I am going to resign as a MLA as of now,” said Fernandes, when The Goan contacted him to react to the speculations.
“Right now, I am in Loliem holding a meeting with my workers, which I have been doing for almost six months now, since nothing can be said of this government. We may have to face another election sooner than anticipated and I have to be prepared,” said Fernandes, when asked if he was in Panaji following rumours that talks were in the final stages for his exit from the Congress party.
Claiming all these rumours were giving him free publicity, the MLA, however, said he would first inform the media, in case there was any development on his political career.
Incidentally, this is not the first time that social media has been abuzz with rumours of Fernandes’ possible departure from the Congress.
A rumour was recently spread and a quote was even attributed to BJP national president Amit Shah that the BJP already had an MLA from the extreme of South Goa to join the BJP.
