Team Herald
PANJIM: Speculation is rife in political circles that two MLAs will soon leave Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a plan masterminded by the central BJP leadership.
In the past two days the MGP has been pushed on the back foot and has tried to shrug off fears that there would be a split in the legislature wing. MGP President Pandurang (Deepak) Dhavalikar and PWD Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar have both made attempts to suggest that the MGP MLAs stand united.
Ever since the death of Mapusa MLA and former deputy chief minister Francis D’Souza, and the uncertainty over the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s health, the BJP in Goa appears to have turned restless as they have again lost the single largest party tag to the opposition Congress.
The Congress has 14 seats, while the BJP has 13. The BJP though has the support of three MGP MLAs, 3 GFP MLAs and three Independents.
However, owing to uncertainty over the victories in by-polls for Shiroda, Mandrem and Mapusa, the BJP now wants to regain the single largest party tag at the earliest.
Sources reveal that the saffron brigade is in talks with MGP MLAs Tourism Minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar and Sanvordem MLA Dipak Pauskar. Sources further reveal that the deal has already been struck and they are just waiting for the right time.
Sources in the BJP disclosed that all depends on MGP’s decision to withdraw its plan to contest the by-polls in Shiroda, Mandrem and Mapusa.
BJP had engineered defections in Shiroda and Mandrem from the opposition Congress wherein two former MLAs Subash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte resigned to join BJP.
The two are expected to be fielded by BJP from Shiroda and Mandrem. However, what has irked the senior alliance partner is that the MGP has decided to contest the polls against the BJP candidates.
Not only that, they have also threatened to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. “We will wait and see, what they (MGP) do,” sources said.
BJP State president Vinay Tendulkar when contacted neither confirmed nor denied any such move. But his tone suggested that there is no smoke without fire. “Anybody is free to join BJP. We are the ruling national party and many would want to join us. I cannot say who is joining or not in advance. Let us wait,” he said.
Azgaonkar, however, when questioned on the speculation of him joining BJP denied any such development. “Sudin Dhavalikar is my leader and I will do whatever he decides. There is no such move of leaving the party,” he said.
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What does the anti-defection law say?
Legislators may change their party without the risk of disqualification in certain circumstances. The law allows a party to merge with or into another party provided that at least two-thirds of its legislators are in favour of the merger. In such a scenario, neither the members who decide to merge, nor the ones who stay with the original party will face disqualification.
In this case, MGP has three MLAs and two are at liberty to join BJP without the threat of disqualification.
This also means, the MGP duo, will not have to resign from the membership of the Legislative Assembly and contest polls again.
Government intact: Azgaonkar
Minister Manohar Azgaonkar refuted allegations that MGP is trying to create fissures in the coalition-led government, claiming the government is intact.
“Our government is number one and intact. Why will we develop cracks in the government? It is running well,” he said responding to a question on the alleged divisions in the government.
The minister also stated that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has brought enough funds for Goa to carry out different development activities. “We want a CM like him. We all should pray for his speedy recovery so that he is back in action soon,” he stated.
