Team Herald
PANJIM: The MGP’s Central Committee has, in a very significant decision, opposed any moves from anyone within or outside the party to merge the regional party with the BJP.
A central committee of the MGP met on Saturday to resolve to oppose “all such moves” and retain the existence of the party in the State as an independent political entity. However, it did not specify who was initiating such moves.
Sources indicate that the Party’s most significant leader Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar is not averse to a merger with the BJP to strengthen the ruling party and prepare Dhavalikar for an even more important leadership role in the event of Manohar Parrikar having to take a health related temporary break.
However, party insiders revealed that there are differences within the MGP and a section in the central committee are firm that maintaining MGP’s identity is paramount and the merger with the BJP will destroy MGP’s identity.
Central Committee members went to the extent of indicating that it doesn’t matter who left the party as long those who remained believed in the identity of the party and did not wish to merge it with any other party.
The MGP has three MLAs and two ministers – Sudin Dhavalikar and Babu Azgaonkar – as well as Sanvordem MLA Deepak Pawaskar. It is no secret that he is his own man and owes his allegiance to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and to no one else.
MGP President Deepak Dhavalikar interestingly will not necessarily toe his brother’s line and could very well be on the side of those who are opposing any merger with the BJP.
The meeting on Saturday has, however, made it clear that that political movements are indeed on the sidelines even as the state prays for the Chief Minister’s total recovery.
