PANAJI
In the spotlight over an alleged conversation with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, former Ports Minister Michael Lobo on Thursday laid out a virtual chronology of government formation on March 10, when votes polled in the February 14 polls are eventually counted.
While categorically not stating whether he had spoken or not spoken to Shah, Lobo also said that he was in the Congress to stay and added that neither Independent MLAs nor MLAs of other parties would join forces with the BJP this time, claiming that the BJP had kicked those who supported them in the past like how a horse or a donkey does.
"The Congress candidates who become MLAs will not split this time. We will give a good government. By 3 pm results will be out, by 5 pm Congress will stake claim to form the government," Lobo told a press conference in Panaji.
"Those who are in the ruling will go into the opposition. They have told Goans not to be scared (sarcastically mimicking CM Pramod Sawant's punchline 'bhivpachi garaz na'). But they need to be afraid," Lobo said.
"But they should not think that we will split this time. No one will split. We are all strong. People from other parties are in touch with us. They have told us that they do not want to go to the other side," Lobo also said.
The now-former Calangute MLA was a BJP MLA from 2012, before joining the Congress on the eve of the 2022 assembly polls.
Lobo also urged people not to believe in rumours about a split in the Congress, adding that people have cast their ballot to vote the BJP out of power, even describing the period after March 10 as the "second liberation of Goa" from dictatorial rulers.
"Goans should be happy and distribute sweets on March 10. By 4:30 pm, 5 pm, after we stake a claim, Goans will get liberated for the second time. This liberation is like the Opinion poll," he said.
Lobo also said that neither a single Independent MLA nor the MGP leadership would go with the BJP after March 10, adding that those who supported the BJP in the past were kicked by the latter in the same way a donkey or a horse does.
"Not a single Independent or MGP MLA will join the BJP. They have tried to destroy the MGP on two occasions. Sudin and Deepak Dhavalikar will not go to the BJP. They speak to central BJP leaders over the phone. They speak to them because they are afraid. Why are they afraid? They are threatening them with ED (Enforcement Directorate) and Income Tax (officials). They keep saying 'yes', but they know they should not be going to the other side (for their own good)," Lobo said.
"Independent leaders should check the history of how Goa Forward and other Independent leaders were kicked out. You have seen how a donkey or a horse kicks. They kicked them like that. We are confident that MGP will be with us. Goans have shown confidence in MGP and not BJP this time," Lobo said.
When specifically asked about a story published in the section of the media which claimed that Lobo had a conversation with Amit Shah, the former Ports Minister said: "They send a lot of leaders to start conversations".
When reporters persisted with the query, Lobo said, "You ask the person to who has published this", not denying the insinuation.
