PANJIM/PONDA: MGP head and yet again MLA elect from Marcaim Sudin Dhavlikar is in a bit of a piquant situation. He has, after getting just two seats, offered “unconditional support” to the forthcoming BJP led government, but the BJP has not yet given its unconditional acceptance to this offer.
It may be recalled that the MGP ministers were dropped from the cabinet by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant after the BJP strength went up to ten defections from the Congress, less than three years ago. Bt this time Sawant may not be averse to getting a little cushion in the form of two MGP MLAs, in case the BJP faces any internal political disasters
Sudin Dhavalikar told reporters that the MGP has asked BJP not to “poach” other leaders into the party in the future.
“I have consulted with all the stakeholders including the party central committee and we have decided to give unconditional support to the BJP to form the next state government,” said Dhavalikar.
Jeet Arlokar from Mandrem is the other winning candidate.
Opposition to alliance with MGP grows within the BJP
Meanwhile, as the opposition within the party grows over post-poll ties with MGP.
Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant said that the decision to bring MGP on board is by “Central leadership”. The Chief Minister said that it was the decision of the Central leaders to take MGP along. “Once the decision is taken by Central leadership, we have to abide by it,” he said.
Mauvin Godinho, Govind Gaude, Ravi Naik, Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate, and Subhash Shirodkar have raised their strong resentment against the party’s decision to take MGP along in government formation. The leaders feel that with the support of three Independents- Antonio Vas, Chandrakant Shetye, and Alex Reginald Lourenco, the party has a complete majority to go with a stable government for the next five years.
BJP has won 20 seats.
Sawant had said last evening that the MGP has extended unconditional support to the government.
The central observers of the party are expected to arrive in Goa on Friday after which the new legislature wing will meet to decide its leader.
Reacting to the development, Govind Gaude, who won against BJP’s Deepak Dhavalikar from Priol, said “taking MGP along with us would be the biggest betrayal to our voters”.
“People will throw shoes at us…we need to rethink the decision,” Gaude said.
Expressing his unhappiness over party decision, Ravi Naik said that he along with others have raised this issue before Devendra Fadnavis and CT Ravi during the meeting held on Thursday evening.
“We have asked our leadership not to trust MGP. We don’t need their support as we have a clear majority of 23 candidates. There is no question of taking MGP along,” Naik said.
Naik, who got elected with a meager margin of 79 votes against arch-rival MGP’s Ketan Bhatikar in Ponda, said that it is MGP who wants to be part of the government.
When asked, Muavin Godinho said that every member has their own opinion but that does not mean there are differences. “Central leaders have taken a decision to ensure stability…to give a stable government to the people of Goa for next five years,” he said.
Godinho said that party members are been told that the decision to take MGP along is of central leaders and the same will be understood once our Observers are here in Goa.
When contacted, Subhash Shirodkar too said that the party can give a stable government without MGP. “They contested against us and we cannot take them along,” he said.
