Goa Elections 2022: Minister Michael Lobo, another MLA quit BJP ahead of polls

Goa minister Michael Lobo and BJP MLA Pravin Zantye resigned from the party as well as the Legislative Assembly on Monday, ahead of the state polls scheduled next month.

The Goa BJP unit later said such moves will not affect the party's prospects in the state Assembly elections, to be held on February 14.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said "a few defections" cannot deter the agenda of good governance and expressed confidence that people of Goa will vote his party to power for another term.

Lobo, who represented the Calangute Assembly constituency and held charge of the state port and waste management departments, submitted his resignation to the chief minister's office and the Goa Assembly's Speaker in the morning.

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A couple of hours later, Zantye, who represented the Mayem Assembly segment, also tendered his resignation from the BJP and the state Assembly.

Zantye told reporters that he had joined the BJP at the behest of former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, and claimed that after the latter's death, he was sidelined in the party.