The two allies are deadlocked over the MGP’s demand for 19 ZP seats of the total 50, which the BJP, due to its superior numerical strength in the Assembly, is unwilling to concede.
Addressing media persons, BJP spokesman Dr Wilfred Mesquita said that the final decision on the alliance would be taken by Wednesday or Thursday. “Currently, seat-sharing is the only issue. The negotiations are on with the MGP,” he said.
“Apart from seat-sharing, there is no other issue. Both the parties follow the same ideology,” he added.
Mesquita reiterated that BJP would not like to break its ties with the MGP, neither ahead of the ZP elections nor for the 2017 Assembly elections. “There is no limitation on the alliance. Our alliance started in 2012 and will continue,” the BJP spokesman said, adding “if MGP does not want, we cannot force them”.
The BJP and MGP leaders are currently engaged in talks on the details of the alliance.
After the exit of Manohar Parrikar from State politics, the BJP-MGP alliance has been rocky.
While both BJP and MGP workers have expressed their desire to go it alone for the ZP polls, the party leadership is not clear on the issue so far. However, both have said that if required they are ready to go it alone.
The MGP had recently moved a proposal to its ally, the BJP, to continue the alliance for the ZP elections.
