New Delhi, July 11: Ten rebel Congress legislators on Thursday formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in presence of working president of the saffron party JP Nadda in New Delhi. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the 10 rebel MLAs reached New Delhi on Wednesday to meet BJP President Amit Shah and Nadda. Meanwhile, there is still no clarity on the cabinet reshuffle. Political Turmoil in Goa After Karnataka; 10 Out 15 Congress MLAs Resign, Show Support For BJP.

Sawant has not issued any statement about the ministers he will drop from the cabinet to accommodate the MLAs joining the BJP. However, reports surfaced that the CM is likely to drop four ministers to induct the new legislators. Currently, three MLAs of Goa Forward Party (GFP) including its chief Vijai Sardesai are part of the Goa cabinet. Two independent MLAs - Rohan Khaunte and Govind Gawade - are also part of Sawant’s cabinet.

On Wednesday, 10 out of 15 legislators of Goa Congress resigned from their post to join the BJP. The MLAs led by the leader of opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar met the speaker Rajesh Patnekar. They gave him a letter informing their split from the Congress. Goa Assembly Bypoll Results 2019: Congress Wins Panaji, BJP Bags Mapusa Vidhan Sabha Seat.

With the 10 Congress MLAs joining the saffron party, the total strength of the BJP rose to 27. Congress is left with only five members in the State Assembly. In 2017 assembly elections in Goa, the grand old party emerged as the single largest party. However, The BJP with 13-MLAs managed to form the government in coalition with GFP and Independents. In March this year, two of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) had also joined the saffron party.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 11, 2019 09:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).