In a setback to the Congress in Goa, two of its MLAs Tuesday joined the BJP, giving a boost to the saffron party's government in the state.
Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte met BJP president Amit Shah, and Union minister Piyush Goyal later announced the decision of their joining the BJP at a press conference.
Earlier in Goa, Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant said Shirodkar and Sopte had sent their resignations by fax as members of the assembly to his office.
In the 40-member Goa Assembly, the Parrikar government has the support of 23 MLAs. These comprise 14 BJP MLAs, three each from the Goa Forward Party and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party as well as three Independents.
The strength of the Congress, which has so far been the single largest party with 16 MLAs, will now come down to 14.