Former BJP minister in Goa Mahadev Naik Friday said he has decided to join the Congress.
Naik, who was a minister in the Laxmikant Parsekar-led cabinet, had contested the 2017 Assembly polls on BJP ticket from Shiroda constituency. However, he had lost to Congress candidate Subhash Shirodkar, who joined the ruling BJP in October last year.
Shirodkar is now tipped to be the BJP candidate for the Shiroda by-election, dates of which are yet to be announced.
"I have decided to join the Congress after several leaders approached me to put up a common front against Shirodkar," Naik said when contacted.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) chief Girish Chodankar said, "Naik would be joining the Congress soon to put up a united front against Shirodkar."