Team Herald
PONDA: MGP president Deepak Dhavalikar resumed campaigning in Shiroda and insisted that he will not withdraw from the Shiroda by-poll.
Deepak resumed his campaign, which had been halted temporarily after the demise of former CM Manohar Parrikar. His wife was also seen campaigning with him.
This move has left the MGP supporters unsure about the future of the alliance between BJP and MGP.
Sources have pointed out that the relationship between the two parties is strained with the ensuing fight over Shiroda and the BJP has given MGP a deadline of March 27, Wednesday to withdraw from the Shiroda by-poll.
While speaking to MGP supporters, Deepak stated that MGP has a post poll alliance with the BJP and not a pre-poll alliance and that it is not his responsibility to quit the Shiroda seat as they had contested from Shiroda in 2017 and that nobody can give MGP a deadline. Sources within the MGP add that Deeepak is confident of securing a victory with around 15,000 votes for the by-poll. Sources added that all eyes are focused on March 27, Wednesday, to see MGP’s stand stand and if they stay or resign. This has been the hot topic of discussion across the taluka as they wonder what will be the next move by the two political parties.
MGP supporters feel that the unease within the party over the possibility of the two MLAs splitting the group and joining the BJP any time and the recent expulsion of MGP general secretary Lavoo Mamledar has forced the MGP to be firm on their stance. They point out that MGP has supported BJP in the past LS elections.
On the other hand BJP’s candidate Subhash Shirodkar has already been actively campaigning in the constituency. The Congress has not yet declared its candidate and sources feel they will wait to see the outcome of the tussle between BJP and MGP and accordingly declare its candidate.
