TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: With the 2017 Assembly elections in mind, the State’s oldest regional political outfit – the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party – managed a coup of sorts when it got BJP panch from Volvoi-Priol panchayat Rajendra Naik to join the party along with 25 of his supporters.
“More and more people from different parties will join the MGP in the near future,” MGP MLA Lavoo Mamledar said in the presence of party president Pandurang (Deepak) Dhavalikar.
The party, which has been jostling for space vis-à-vis the BJP, has decided to strengthen its base across all 40 assembly constituencies.
Addressing media persons, Dhavalikar said that the party during its Sunday executive committee meeting resolved to strengthen party’s base, considering that people are looking at this regional party with the hope of good governance in future.
“MGP is keen to establish its base in all 40 constituencies,” he said, adding that the party has started its year-long membership drive and will try to achieve better results in each assembly constituency. “I appeal to the people, irrespective of whether they are part of any political party, to join the MGP,” he declared. MGP is in alliance with BJP-led government in the State.
While the party has opened its doors to new entrants, it has permanently shut its door on workers indulging in anti-party activities. “Those who have left the party or betrayed us, for them our doors are closed,” the party president said.
Mamledar said being a local party, which has been existing for over four decades, many people are looking at MGP with hope of good governance. “We are confident that the party will succeed in strengthening its base in all 40 constituencies,” he said.
After former chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s elevation to the Union cabinet, both the BJP and MGP have hinted that they would go it alone in the coming assembly elections.
In the recent past there have been rumors about political conflict within the alliance partners – BJP and MGP. While both have openly denied any such happenings, the grassroots level workers are involved in internal fights for political space.
