Team Herald
PANJIM: Setting aside their differences in Ponda, alliance partners in the state government – the BJP and MGP have finally decided to come together and form the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC).
BJP MP Narendra Sawaikar said the party is confident to form the council with an alliance from MGP. “The BJP-MGP alliance will form the Ponda Municipal Council,” he said at a press conference on Thursday.
With a fractured mandate in Ponda, Sawaikar said BJP’s tally has increased from four seats in the last municipal elections to five this year.
“Our booth share and support base have remained intact. The Congress should be introspecting as its (voting) share has gone down,” he said taking a dig at the Opposition party.
The panel supported by the MGP won in seven wards, falling short by just one seat to form the Council. Nevertheless, the MGP-backed panel, which had won five seats in the last civic polls, increased its tally by two this time. On the other hand, the BJP won in five wards while the Congress managed to increase its tally from one to three.
Before the civic polls on April 29, PWD Minister and MGP’s senior leader Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar had categorically stated that MGP would go all alone this election claiming the party was “ditched” by some elected representatives in the Ponda Municipal Council.
“It was a mistake to ally with BJP in last civic polls,” he was quoted as saying while denying that its coalition with the BJP in the government will be affected.
Alike in the State elections wherein after partings their ways, BJP-MGP joined hands to form the coalition government in March 2017.
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BJP chief to arrive on May 13: Tanavade
BJP Goa General Secretary Sadanand Tanavade said that BJP National President Amit Shah will arrive in the State on May 13 morning following which he would hold meeting with the alliance partners. Shah will also meet BJP legislators and party’s core committee.
Tanavade said that Shah will thereafter address a convention of the party workers in the evening for which the preparations have been going on in full swing.
“We have been holding a series of meetings. Goa has 1642 booths and we have got the registration of 1550 booths. Average 5-10 members from each booth will participate in the convention. We have covered 100 per cent booths in many constituencies,” he added.
Meanwhile, the party has condemned the demand of the Congress party to the Governor to change the leadership in the State. MP Narendra Sawaikar said, “The three-member Cabinet Advisory Committee is within the ambit of the law and there are no crisis in the State. Government is running smoothly,” he said.
