Thursday, February 24 2005 14:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Panaji: Congress today (Feb 24, 2005) welcomed senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Digambar Kamat's resignation from his Assembly seat and denied that he had been offered the Chief Minister's post.

"We welcome Kamat's resignation. The very fact that such a senior leader and considered number two in their party has resigned, just goes to show the extent of the revolt in the BJP and more are bound to follow," State Congress president Luisinho Faleiro told reporters in Panaji.

He said that Kamat had tendered his resignation today to the legislature secretary, the office of the Speaker as well to Governor S C Jamir in his presence.

Faleiro also denied that Kamat would be joining the Congress, but said that he would welcome such a possibility.

"I don't know if he is joining the Congress, but I would welcome him into the party. After all it cannot be denied that Kamat has a huge following among the people of Goa," Faleiro said.

When asked if the BJP MLA had been offered the Chief Ministership, the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president said, "Rane has just become the Chief Minister, so why raise the question now? It is absolutely false that that Kamat was offered the Chief Ministership. I don't even know if he is interested in the Chief Ministership."

"The vote of confidence is now as clear as day. There is no doubt that we will win, but knowing the 'crooked mind' of the BJP, and how they have misused the office of the Speaker in the past, there could be attempts to create a further constitutional crisis," he added.

"I have submitted a letter to the Speaker this morning asking him to maintain the status quo ante of the Assembly till the vote of confidence on February 28. I have requested that he should not disturb status quo on the disqualification petition against Filipe Rodrigues," Faleiro said.

He also refused to comment on whether Kamat met All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Margaret Alva, who is camping in Goa, saying, "Why don't you ask this question to Kamat himself."

Kamat, however, was not available for comments.

Accusing the BJP of "putting Goa to shame", Faleiro said, "They are doing this because they know that the rampant corruption done by their Government is coming to light and the will soon be exposed. The BJP Government has taken loans upto Rs 4,500 crore in its tenure and not a single pie has been spent on development."

"Kamat's resignation was long overdue. He has been suffering humiliations for the past couple of years and silently bearing it. It has now come out," Faleiro said.