PANJIM: The Dhavlikars have been dropped, but it might still take a while before ties are totally snapped. While the MGP seems more belligerent on merely waiting for the poll notification before going their own way, “big brother” BJP which flexed its muscles in a swift three hour exercise on Monday evening (see accompanying story) before dropping the two MGP ministers, doesn’t want to say goodbye for good.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s decision to drop the Dhavalikar brothers from his cabinet sent a direct signal that the divorce between the alliance partners is imminent. But statements by
leaders from both parties suggest that it is not over yet.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, addressing the media, stated that the decision to drop the Dhavalikars was taken at the government level. “At the party level we will continue efforts to form an alliance but the proposal has to come from MGP one-to-one and not through the media,” Parrikar said.
Parrikar said alliance talks with the Dhavalikars were on for the past three months but due to his busy schedule not much ice could be broken. “I feel the alliance between MGP and BJP will be in the interest of Goa,” he said replying to a query.
BJP State President Vinay Tendulkar said he was still hopeful of an alliance. “The decision taken by the Chief Minister was in the interest of the party and the government and any other person would have reacted as he did,” Tendulkar said reacting to statements against the CM by Dhavalikar brothers.
Asked whether his party is ready to go all alone, he replied, “We have very strong booth presence in all 40 constituencies and hence if need be we can go all alone. But we are still hopeful things will be sorted out and the alliance can be formed,” Tendulkar said.
