Summary:
Later in the evening, the two joined BJP in the presence of Union ministers Piyush Goel and Shripad Naik, state party president Vinay Tendulkar and health minister Vishwajit Rane. Shirodkar is a long-time Congressman having been a minister in past governments and its state unit president.“We have not been offered anything by BJP. Top BJP sources said the exodus from Congress may continue with two more MLAs waiting in line to join the party.In a pre-planned move, Sopte and Shirodkar, who left for Delhi late on Monday night, met BJP national president Amit Shah on Tuesday before they resigned. While BJP has 14 MLAs, its alliance partners—Maharahstrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Goa Forward Party (GFP)—have three each, with three independents supporting the Parrikar-led government.In eventuality of a floor test, even if the three ailing BJP MLAs—chief minister Manohar Parrikar, Francis D’Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar—fail to make it to the House, the BJP-led coalition would still have 20 members. “We have been in politics for many years and nobody can point fingers at us,” they said.With the resignation of Mandrem MLA Sopte and Shiroda representative Shirodkar, the House strength has also been reduced to 38..