Team Herald
PONDA: The beleaguered MG party reiterated their stance that they will contest the Lok Sabha and Assembly by-polls, with party president Deepak Dhavalikar filing his nominations for the Shiroda seat before Deputy Collector Kedar Naik . The MGP leaders added that they would take a call on the Mandrem and Mapusa candidate for by- polls in those respective constituencies soon.
In a show of strength, the Dhavalikar brothers were accompanied by a large number of supporters in an attempt to show the party’s unity.
The current lone MGP MLA Sudin Dhavalikar, who was recently dropped as Dy CM and State minister, lashed out at their former alliance partner, for their role in the series of defections in Goa and said the trend of defections were against the interest of Goa.
Sudin, without naming the BJP, alleged that there have been attempts to intimidate his family using unsavory tactics such as threats from the Income Tax, ED and NIA. He said that these threats would last only for a few days and added that the threats of filing cases against them were unbecoming of a democratic state.
Deepak, added that their family will not be deterred by these pressure tactics to step back and further accused the BJP for hatching a conspiracy to malign the image of the MGP in Goa. He also stated that the party had overwhelming support amongst Goan voters.
Sudin strongly backed Deepak’s chances for Shiroda and added that the rumours that had been spread by their rival politicians had been finally put to rest.
He added that MGP is a party of Bahujans founded by first Chief Minister Bhausaheb Bandodkar and that it still has space in the hearts of people at the grassroot level.
Repeating his charge that the ‘the chowkidar had carried out dacoity at midnight’, Sudin felt that there had been change in public perception including in the media in favour of the party following the recent political developments where two former MGP MLAs joined the BJP.
“People in Goa are also upset with what has happened and are fed up with the constant political defections, which are encouraged by selfish politicians. They want these party hopping activities to stop and MGP will achieve this goal and are taking the initiative to lead the people’s fight against defection,” said Sudin.
In an indirect dig at his own rival Subhash Shirodkar, Deepak said that the Shiroda voters would definitely teach a lesson to the defector, who switched sides for huge personal gains. He added that he is confident of winning the Shiroda by-poll with a lead of 5-6 thousand votes and that he had no rivals.
Among the issues he is will be fighting for, Deepak said that problems like water shortage, unemployment and power problems had been affecting the Shiroda constituents.
