Team Herald
PANJIM: In a major jolt to the alliance government, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) Central Committee has decided to contest both Assembly by-polls in the State.
After Subash Shirodkar (Shiroda) and Dayanad Sopte (Mandrem) resigned as MLAs, the two seats fell vacant and the by-elections are expected soon.
The Central Committee of the MGP confirmed the decision to contest the upcoming by-elections in Shiroda and Mandrem Assembly Constituencies. MGP is an alliance partner of BJP in the State government led by Manohar Parrikar.
“The Central Committee decided that MGP will not have trucks with any other political party for both the by-elections. We will contest both the seats on our own,” MGP General Secretary Lavu Mamlatdar said.
The meeting was chaired by Party President Deepak Dhavalikar.
Dhavalikar has already announced his candidature from Shiroda constituency and has been campaigning vigorously.
Mamlatdar said that both the Assembly constituencies have been traditionally bastion of MGP. “We had contested 2017 Assembly Election from both the seats. We have enough strength to get our candidates elected from both the seats,” he said.
MGP, Goa Forward Party and Independents are alliance partners in the BJP-led coalition in Goa which was formed in 2017.
