Team Herald
PANJIM: In what can be construed to be a final warning, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), an ally of the BJP, has warned it will contest the upcoming Assembly by-elections and the 2019 Lok Sabha polls if BJP fails to hand over charge of the government to their MLA Ramakrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar in absence of ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
The MGP central committee, under the leadership of President Pandurang (Deepak) Dhavalikar, met on Saturday and discussed the current political and administrative situation in the State. The committee was of the opinion that with Parrikar suffering from pancreatic cancer there has been an administrative collapse for the last eight months.
Addressing media persons post the meeting, Dhavalikar said that central committee has resolved that if there is no leadership change at the earliest then the party is free to contest the upcoming elections, independently.
“We had a detailed discussion on the leadership issue. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is ailing and because of that the administration has been completely paralysed in last eight months. Hence, in a bid to ensure smooth functioning of the administration, we demand that CMO charge be given to senior MGP MLA Sudin Dhavalikar as early as possible,” he said.
“If the charge is not given immediately, we will contest all the upcoming elections that are by-election and Lok Sabha polls, independently,” the former MLA threatened.
Dhavalikar said the party will hold another meeting next month to review the situation and the impact of its warning. “Accordingly, a final decision will be taken,” he said.
By-elections are due for Mandrem and Shiroda Assembly constituencies, after former Congress MLAs Dayanand Sopte and Subhash Shirodkar vacated their seats and joined BJP.
Dhavalikar said the Central committee is considering contesting the by-elections but the final decision will be taken by next week.
Responding to a question, the party president said he is willing to contest from Shiroda, while the party will extend support to social worker Jeet Arolkar in Mandrem. “Jeet has not taken any decision. He has expressed his desire to contest on our ticket,” he said.
MGP currently has three MLAs – Sudin Dhavalikar, Manohar Azgaonkar and Deepak Pawaskar – in the Assembly.
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MGP to support mining protest at Jantar Mantar
The MGP central committee has resolved to participate in the sit-in protest planned by mining dependents at Jantar Mantar next month, to mount pressure on the Centre to amend the MMDR Act to resume mining operations in the State.
“We have unanimously resolved to go to Jantar Mantar and sit in protest along with mining dependents,” Dhavalikar said.
The mining dependents had met Dhavalikar, earlier this week seeking the party’s support for their fight for resumption of mining activities.
The protest at Jantar Mantar is scheduled on December 11, 12, 13, to coincide with the beginning of the winter session of Parliament.
