Mamledar: See, everyone has right to dream of becoming an MLA or minister and the same is happening in case of BJP workers in Ponda. They are playing dirty politics, I would say.
Herald: Have you personally come across this, what you call ‘dirty politics’?
Mamledar: Yes! I have witnessed BJP block level workers from Ponda working against MGP. All efforts are on to ensure that support to MGP reduces and BJP is strengthened here. But in this internal fight, the opposition is turning out to be the ultimate winners. We have no issue, if BJP workers try to develop their party in Ponda; we welcome that move but not at the cost of MGP, who is a partner in the coalition.
Herald: Will these internal fights turn out to be a major tussle for the Assembly elections in 2017, where BJP and MGP might contest against each other?
Mamledar: I don’t think so because the MGP and BJP high commands have decided to continue the coalition for at least ten years. Despite this being known, the acts of the BJP workers prove that there is no discipline in the party. The party seniors have failed to control their grassroots workers. There is no discipline in BJP.
Herald: Do you think the recent statements of ministers Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar and Pandurang (Deepak) Dhavalikar against the government on the Tenancy Act amendment will further trigger off a fight?
Mamledar: Before becoming a minister in the government, the MLAs were elected as representatives of people. It is their duty to raise the issues concerned with the people, their voters, before the government. That cannot be called as anti-government or anti-BJP.
