PANAJI
Amid the ongoing crisis in the Congress, senior leader and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat was on Sunday removed as a permanent invitee to Congress Working Committee.
In a statement issued today, National General Secretary in-charge of organisation, K C Venugopal said, “Hon’ble Congress President has removed Shri Digambar Kamat from his current position as permanent invitee to Congress Working Committee with immediate effect”.
A letter signed by Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal was released on Sunday evening.
The party has accused Digambar Kamat and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo for trying to engineer a split in the party. Last week, the Congress had sacked Lobo as Leader of the Opposition amid rumours of defections.
The Congress also flew out five of its MLAs to Chennai on Friday after the Assembly proceedings ended for the day, fearing poaching by the BJP. The MLAs have been staying at a five-star hotel in the city.
The five MLAs who were moved by the Congress to Chennai include Sankalp Amonkar, Yuri Alemao, Altone D’Costa, Rudolf Fernandes and Carlose Alvares Ferreira.
Apart from Kamat and Lobo, four other Congress MLAs including Delilah Lobo, Kedar Naik, Aleixo Sequeira and Rajesh Faldesai did not go with the rest.
The Congress had earlier charged Kamat with hobnobbing with the BJP for position and power and also, along with Lobo conspiring to split the Congress.
AICC Goa in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao had recently attacked Lobo and Kamat accusing them of hatching a conspiracy to split and weaken the party.
Congress has also filed petitions with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Ramesh Tawadkar seeking disqualification of Lobo and Kamat for trying to engineer a split in the party.
Congress has 11 MLAs in the 40-member Assembly whereas the ruling BJP has 20 and enjoys the support of five others -- two from MGP and three Independents.
