PONDA: Former Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLA Lavoo Mamledar declared as Congress candidate from Marcaim turned to be a talking point as voters developed huge curiosity on how he would be able to garner votes contesting against MGP Leader Sudin Dhavalikar, who has a long stronghold in the constituency.
Reportedly, Mamledar joined Trinamool Congress (TMC) in September and left the party after it made alliance with MGP. Mamledar last week joined Congress and also vowed to defeat Dhavlikar if Congress fields him against Dhavalikar and on his claim he is declared Marcaim Congress candidate.
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Mamledar and Dhavalikar were college friends. Dhavalikar brought in Policeman (DySP) friend Mamledar into politics and fielded him against Ravi Naik from Ponda constituency in 2012. Mamledar defeated Naik and as a MLA was always vocal against BJP government for five years blaming the latter on development issues despite MGP leaders were Minister in Government. He again contested on MGP ticket against Naik in 2017 but was defeated by Naik.
His friendship with Dhavalikar also turned sour with his defeat. Dhavalikar sidelined Mamledar and selected Ketan Bhatikar instead as a new leader for Ponda. Since then Mamledar’s political rivalry with Sudin Dhavalikar and Deepak Dhavalikar became bitter. There was issue on party elections and Mamledar had blamed Deepak Dhavalikar for not holding elections of Party Working Committee. Later MGP expelled Mamledar from the party blaming him of anti-party activities.
According to voters Dhavalikar is strong at Marcaim and at present it is difficult to defeat him. They however, claim that surely it would be tough for him this time to maintain the winning record with highest votes from Marcaim as Mamledar would manage to steal his votes but also Sudesh Bhingi, who was once supporter of Dhavalikar is expected to contest on BJP ticket.
