PANJIM: Confirming the speculation regarding Congress MLA Pandurang Madkaikar and Independent MLA Naresh Sawal, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) leader and PWD Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar on Monday said that both MLAs are in talks with the party and are welcome to join it.
“When Sawal was denied Congress ticket during the last election, he had approached me for the MGP ticket but I advised him to contest as independent and he won,” Dhavalikar told media persons. “In the case of Madkaikar, he was with MGP earlier but he was taken away by Congress,” the Minister said.
Madkaikar, contested and won on Congress tickets in 2007 and 2012 elections from Cumbharjua constituency, but has now expressed his displeasure over the party functioning. The MLA has said that he has an offer from MGP to join that party. On the other hand Sawal, who was closely working with the Congress in 2012, was denied a party ticket forcing him to contest as an independent.
Dhavalikar claimed there are at least 20 current and former MLAs who have approached him to join the MGP. He mentioned any MLA is welcome to MGP, if he respects the party ideology. “There are as many as 20 current and former MLAs who have approached me. They want to leave their current political party and be with MGP. I have kept the party door open for those who want to work with the MGP,” he said.
Asked whether the party welcomes its former member Ravi Naik, Dhavalikar said the party has resolved that those who had betrayed the party, will in the case of their return, have to work for at least six years before aspiring for a ticket.
Asked about growing rumours of his supporters wanting him to be next State Chief Minister, the MGP leader said, “It is not easy to become Chief Minister. Party will have to win 21 seats.”
Dhavalikar also said that their alliance with the BJP will continue for the 2017 elections, but the final decision on seat sharing will be taken only after October 2 or 4.
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Respect BBSM MoI demand, not supporting them politically: Sudin
Playing down the BBSM demand for an alliance MGP leader Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar said he has high respect for the Manch demand on medium of instruction, but politically is not supporting them.
“I have respect for BBSM as they are working to protect our mother tongue. Also I have great respect for RSS,” he commented. “But politically we are not with them. I feel BBSM needs to rethink before entering politics. This battle needs to be fought outside political field,” he added.
BBSM has set September 30 as a deadline to the MGP to break its alliance with BJP and extend support to their soon-to-be floated political outfit, failing which have threatened to field candidates against the MGP.
