The defection of ten Congress MLAs to the BJP in Goa on Wednesday has plunged the Congress into its deepest Goa crisis in recent years, an opinion column has argued. The piece contends that the BJP misread the anti-defection law on purpose and, in doing so, showed contempt for Goa’s voters.

The column’s argument

The column notes that the Congress, which won 17 seats in 2017, is now down to five MLAs. But it argues that the BJP’s eager welcome to the defectors has also unsettled the party’s own loyal supporters in Goa.

According to the column, that unease is easy to understand because the Pramod Sawant-led coalition was never in danger. Until Wednesday, the BJP had 17 MLAs in the 40-member House, four short of a majority by itself, and the support of six members from the Goa Forward Party and independents had carried it comfortably through half of its term. The column adds that Narendra Modi’s sweeping win in May had also kept the allies on board.

Background

In the 2017 Goa assembly election, the Congress won 17 seats, the BJP 13 and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party 3, and Manohar Parrikar became Chief Minister.

See also: Goa Forward Party, Goa MLAs.

Originally published on 13 July 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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