Team Herald
PONDA: Former PWD minister and Marcaim MLA Sudin Dhavalikar said on Sunday that defections in the country and in Goa are a serious threat to democracy.
Therefore, to save the democracy, he said there is an urgent need to amend the anti-defection law to put an end to defections.
“The anti-defection law should be amended to the effect that if an MLA/MP resigns or defects, then, his/her seat should remain vacant for that tenure. And the MLA/MP so defected should be banned from contesting election for the next six years,” Sudin said.
“This will help to strengthen the democracy in our country,” Sudin said and appealed to Goans to support this mission of MGP which it began since long.
He said that those people earlier were blaming MGP on Shiroda by-election now realised the importance of MGP’s fight against defection.
“Defectors in Goa can’t be trusted. Even those 19 who defected to BJP would not stay long in BJP and their group would split any time soon. Such politics would weaken democracy,” he said.
“Government is constantly calling for ‘One Nation One Election’, I welcome it. But will the elections would be held after defections?” he said.
Responding to Goa Forward MLA Vijai Sardesai’s allegations that the MGP had not withdrawn support to government, he said he doubt about Vijai’s political knowledge.
He said that MGP president had signed the letter of support to BJP government but when two of the members joined BJP, this letter became null and void. “Now, I am the lone MLA and the party central committee has given me power to take my own decision in Assembly and that I have shown by voting at the time of election for Speaker,” he said.
Stressing that he is not against Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Sudin said, “I have seen his good work as Speaker. He should be given at least one year time to work as CM, and thereafter if he fails to deliver, then, we would not keep quiet.”
