Khalap joins Congress

PANAJI, AUG 16: Leader of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP Khalap group) Ramakant Khalap who split the MGP on Thursday joined the ruling Congress party here today.

Former minister of state for law during the Governments of Deve Gowda and I K Gujral, Khalap, who was elected on MGP ticket from Mandrem to the State Assembly in June, had met Congress party president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi last week and expressed his willingness to join the Congress, provided he was considered for the Lok Sabha ticket from Panaji.

Prakash Velip, a senior MGP leader and MGP MLA from Quepemalso, joined Congress today.

Khalap split the MGP on Thursday to pave the way for joining the Congress party and to avoid the provisions of the Anti-Defection Law.

MGP has four MLAs in the forty-member House.

Goa Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro, who is also the president of the Pradesh Congress Committee welcomed Khalap, Velip and their supporters after completing the paper formalities.