PANJIM: The war of words between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party is escalating. Hitting out hard at its coalition partner MGP over their pre-poll alliance condition, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar raised a straight question as to when will the Dhavalikar brothers quit the State cabinet. He also demanded to know whether MGP wants to continue in alliance or not.
“When are they both (Dhavalikar brothers) leaving the State cabinet? I will get a chance to induct two new ministers. Two MLAs will get a chance to be ministers,” Parsekar told media persons reacting to MGP’s statement that an alliance is possible only if Parsekar is not the Chief Ministerial candidate.
“We have 21 MLAs and we also have the support of some independents. Let the MGP leaders first clarify whether the current alliance will continue or not,” the Chief Minister said.
MGP’s Dhavalikar brothers – Ramakrishna alias Sudin and Pandurang alias Dipak – are currently ministers in the Parsekar-led government that came to power after the 2012 elections that were fought in alliance.
MGP President Dipak on Thursday had said the party is not willing to have alliance with BJP for the 2017 elections if Parsekar continues to lead the legislative wing of the party. The party had states that alliance talks will happen only after BJP replaces Parsekar with another leader.
Condemning the statement, BJP spokesman Nilesh Cabral asked how could MGP to dictate terms to BJP. “We are the big brother and all the pre-poll conditions related to alliance will be decided by us and not by MGP,” he said.
“We are in majority and the decision as to who will be the leader of legislative wing will be decided by BJP. MGP cannot tell us,” he stated. He added, “Even during the 2012 elections, it was the BJP legislative wing that proposed the name of Manohar Parrikar as the Chief Minister.”
“Let me remind MGP that during the 2012 election people voted for BJP and not for their alliance,” the MLA commented.
Cabral said that BJP will not like to break its alliance with MGP but asked them to state whether they want an alliance or not. “With or without alliance, BJP is capable of winning 26 seats. We alone can give a stable government,” he said claiming that there is once again a positive wave for BJP.
BJP reiterated that Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Union Minister for Shipping and Goa desk in charge Nitin Gadkari will decide on the alliance issue and hold talks with MGP. “We would request Sudin, who is a more sensible politician to represent MGP during alliance talks,” Cabral said.
