Panaji, Apr 15 (TOI): Former Margao muncipal council chairperson and present councillor Arthur D' Silva on Thursday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with his supporters on Thursday. His move is likely to benefit the BJP to some extent in Margao, Fatorda and Curtorim assembly constituencies.

D'Silva, a one-time strong supporter of Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, is an accused in the Louis Berger bribery scam.

BJP state president Vinay Tendulkar officially announced D'Silva's entry to the party by handing over membership forms to D'Silva. Deputy chief minister Francis D' Souza was also present at the function at BJP headquarters in Panaji.

D'Silva, who started his political career in 2010, won his first municipal council election from a ward in Fatorda and the second from Margao in 2015. He served as MMC chairperson twice. He also contested 2012 assembly election from Fatorda as an independent candidate and lost.

Tendulkar said around 1,500 supporters of D'Silva from Curtorim, Fatorda and Margao will join the BJP soon.

Asked whether he has joined the BJP under the pressure of Louis Berger scam, D'Silva claimed to have no role in Louis Berger case as the court has already granted him anticipatory bail.