NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Putting a precondition for allying with the Goa Suraksha Manch, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party on Friday said that it would agree on having the alliance only if the new political outfit is ready to leave 24 assembly seats for the MGP to contest the forthcoming assembly elections.
The MGP said that it has decided to field candidates in 28 assembly constituencies, including Valpoi, but it is ready for the alliance with GSM if the latter consents to leave 24 seats for the former.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, former PWD minister Ramakrishna ‘Sudhin’ Dhavalikar said that talks on alliance formation is a top priority.
“We are fully prepared to contest 28 seats. We will support others in 12 seats… We have already finalised the names of candidates and they will be announced soon,” he said adding that if the alliance talks fail then the MGP would contest the polls on its own.
The decision had been made in 2007 when we had put up candidates in 24 seats, Dhavalikar said.
“The MGP is going to form a majority government in the state… but if alliance is cobbled up then the MGP will contest in 24 seats. Final decision in this regard will be taken during alliance talks and will be announced after the model code of conduct comes into being,” he said.
Replying to the BJP assertion that it has not shut its doors on the alliance with the MGP, Dhavalikar claimed that 25 per cent of Goans don’t want the MGP to have tie-up with the BJP.
Stating that there was no point in rethinking on continuance of the alliance with the BJP, he said, “There is no point in talking about the alliance with the BJP at this stage. The BJP doesn’t need us because its leaders have claimed that they will win 26 seats…,” Dhavalikar said.
He maintained that final decision on alliance with the GSM would be taken soon by the central committee of the party and an announcement about the same would be made after the model code of conduct comes into force.
It is said the BJP-MGP alliance saw a low when Laxmikant Parsekar was made Chief Minister after Manohar Parrikar was elevated to the post of Defence Minister.
“We had the alliance with the BJP on a precondition that the tie-up would be maintained under the then chief minister Manohar Parrikar… I had expressed my willingness to be deputy chief minister and Francis D’Souza could have been made chief minister. However, that didn’t happen,” he rued.
Replying to a question, he said that for the last one year there have been adverse reactions from MGP’s central committee members for sidelining the alliance partner over the appointment of South Goa PDA chairman.
The issue had been taken up with central BJP leaders and many letters had also been written to Parsekar, he said adding that these letters would be revealed at right time.
Meanwhile, former chairperson of Vasco municipal council Manish Arolkar joined the MGP along with his supporters.