Ponda, Feb 25 (TOI): All India Congress Committee’s national secretary A Chellakumar has assured that if Congress gets an opportunity to form the government in Goa, it will cancel the Rs 70 crore deal that the BJP-led state government has struck with Subhash Shirodkar for acquiring his land, and will use it for development of the constituency.

Chellakumar was addressing Shiroda voters after inducting former BJP minister Mahadev Naik into the Congress. The former Shiroda MLA submitted his membership form to Congress state unit president Girish Chodankar, who said, that along with Naik, a thousand people have joined the Congress.

“Two MLAs forced the byelection for their monetary benefit. If Shirodkar and Sopte get elected, it will set a wrong precedent that anybody can change parties for money,” Chodankar said.

Mahadev Naik alleged that BJP has been trying to destroy the Bahujan Samaj. Except for Milind Naik, no Bahujan Samaj member is in BJP, he said.

Former CM Digambar Kamat termed Shirodkar’s resignation as an attack on voters’ self respect. He said that Shirodkar was Congress’state unit president for five years and despite that, he left the party.

“It’s an insult to you people and you should teach him a lesson so no other MLA would dare to leave the party,” Kamat urged. Commenting on BJP’s administration in Goa, the former CM said that the BJP-led team has no captain.

Opposition leader Chandrakant Kavlekar termed the entry of Naik into the Congress as a wave against BJP, as despite there being a government led by BJP, their leaders are moving to Congress. He said Naik was a Congressman earlier and his entry to the party is a ‘ghar wapsi’ (return home).

Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco said CM Manohar Parrikar made a statement in 2013 that BJP is going to make Goa Congress-free, but instead BJP members are joining Congress. Ponda MLA Ravi Naik criticized Parrikar for stopping mining in Goa.

Former CM Francisco Sardinha termed Naik as a “prodigal son” who has returned to the party.