Team Herald
PANJIM: In what appears to be an act of political retaliation, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) on Wednesday announced it would field candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, a move that will eat into the BJP vote bank. Former deputy chief minister Ramakrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar is likely to contest from the South and former MLA Naresh Sawal could be the candidate in the North.
MGP called for an emergency central committee meeting, hours after Sudin was sacked from the State cabinet following two of its MLAs – Manohar Azgaonkar and Dipak Pawaskar – merging the MGP legislative wing with BJP. The party has also decided to contest the by-elections in Mapusa and Mandrem Assembly constituencies, besides
Shiroda, where its president Pandurang (Deepak) Dhavalikar has commenced his campaign.
Addressing media persons after the meeting, Deepak said that the central committee has resolved to contest both Lok sabha seats. “The party workers have suggested the name of (Sudin) Dhavalikar for South Goa seat and Sawal from North. We are yet to get in touch with Sawal on this. Everything would be finalised in the next two-three days,” he said.
Deepak also said that it has asked its party’s block committees in Mapusa and Mandrem to shortlist the candidates for by-elections. “In Shiroda, my campaign is in full swing. For Mapusa we are in touch with our leader Balu Phadte, but the block election committees will take a call,” he said.
The polls are scheduled on April 23. The nomination process will begin from March 28.
MGP’s decision to contest the Lok Sabha polls is a worrying sign for the BJP that is already facing the heat. BJP has fielded sitting MPs Shripad Naik in North and Narendra Sawaikar from South. In the 2014 elections, MGP had extended its support to BJP, with the saffron party wining both seats.
The infighting between BJP and MGP might give Congress an edge. Congress has fielded its State unit president Girish Chodankar in North and former MP Francisco Sardinha in South.
