Chapter on GFP MLAs joining BJP closed for now: Port minister Michael Lobo

PANAJI: Ports minister Michael Lobo on Tuesday sought to shut down talk of two Goa Forward Party (GFP) MLAs joining BJP. “That chapter is closed now,” he said. However, he said that in politics, nothing is permanently closed. “When it opens (again), we will see,” he said.
Speaking to reporters, Lobo said that “people are always welcome through the front door”.He said that if someone wishes to enter BJP, the decision would have to be taken by state party president Sadanand Shet Tanavade, chief minister Pramod Sawant, and organising secretary Satish Dhond.
Lobo was reacting to strong rumours over the past few days that Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar and Siolim MLA Vinod Paliencar wanted to split the GFP and join BJP. Both of them, however, categorically denied any such plans.
Salgaonkar said that the rumours were a conspiracy to malign their image. He added that the rumours emanated from the BJP camp, and that former tourism minister Dilip Parulekar gave credence to them. Sawant and Dhond were part of the negotiations to move the two MLAs to the BJP camp.