PANJIM: Finding itself in a tight-spot after its ally MGP announced to field its candidate for upcoming by-elections to Shiroda and Mandrem assembly constituencies, the helpless Goa BJP unit has decided to raise the issue with party National President Amit Shah for solution.
The ruling BJP is also likely to face the hit within as two of its former Ministers- Laxmikant Parskear (Mandrem) and Mahadev Naik (Shiroda) have declared to work against party’s official candidates — Dayanand Sopte and Subhash Shirodkar.
“We will be discussing the issue of MGP planning to contest from Shiroda and Mandrem Assembly constituencies during forthcoming by-elections with our party President Amit Shah in next two-three days,” BJP Goa unit President Vinay Tendulkar told media persons on Wednesday.
He said that being an alliance partner in Manohar Parrikar-led government, MGP should support the official candidates in both the Assembly constituencies.
“Talks with MGP will be held only after consultation with Amit Shah,” Tendulkar said responding to a question on whether any effort is being made to convince the coalition partner not to contest the by-elections.
“I am yet to get an appointment of Amit Shah…it will be done in the next two-three days,” the MP stated.
The elections in both the places are necessitated after then Congress MLAs Shirodkar and Sopte resigned and joined the BJP in October, last year.
Recently, the MGP central committee resolved to contest against BJP in both the constituencies. MGP President Deepak Dhavalikar had announced that he would be contesting from Shiroda Assembly Constituency, while the candidate for Mandrem would be finalized shortly.
When contacted, Dhavalikar said that he would not rethink on his decision to contest from Shiroda constituency at any cost. “We have decided to contest and there is no question of rethinking on it,” he said.
