Team Herald
PANJIM: Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) on Monday slammed and rubbished media reports that the party would be merged with BJP during its forthcoming general body meeting scheduled on December 17. MGP, taking note of the media reports, also alleged that it could be a case of paid news.
Soon as media reports speculated that Goa’s oldest regional party would be merging with BJP, MGP on Monday afternoon called for an emergency meeting of its top leaders.
Addressing the media, MGP president Deepak Dhavalikar said, “The news about MGP’s merger into any party (BJP) is completely false. There is no such proposal and necessary action would be taken if the party member is involved in anyway. The general body of the party would be meeting on December 17 to extend the tenure of existing State Executive Committee for another two years.”
He added, “MGP is the oldest regional political front and has consistently been represented in the Goa Legislative Assembly since 1963. Ours is a party which is deeply rooted in the State’s politics and society. At no time we will ever think of merging it. The party will continue contesting all the upcoming elections,” Dhavalikar said.
He said that the 12-13 per cent vote share during the 2017 Assembly election was an indication that the people still support MGP.
MGP leader and PWD Minister, Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar, who was also present, claimed that the false media reports could be case of possible paid news. “I strongly condemn this, it can also be paid news. The media organisation should have at least called me before going ahead with such a major thing. This shows that this is a big game,” Sudin Dhavalikar said.
Dhavlikar, revealed that the Congress had asked him to merge MGP with it in 2005, which he had refused. Similarly another offer had come during 2017 election which was struck down.
