PONDA
Claiming that 14 BJP MLAs had met him to express their unhappiness with Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, ousted minister and MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar on Tuesday said the BJP-MGP alliance would continue till the election notification is released.
Speaking to The Goan at his residence a day after he was dropped from the council of ministers, Dhavalikar stated that most BJP MLAs were disgruntled with Parsekar.
“Fourteen BJP MLAs had come to meet me to express their dissatisfaction against Parsekar. I had apprised Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar of Parsekar's failure as chief minister,” said Dhavalikar.
Asked to disclose those BJP MLAs unhappy with Parsekar, Dhavalikar said: “I don't want to disclose names of those MLAs, but if BJP does not introspect on these issues, it will be finished,” said Dhavalikar.
ON LIFE AS MLA
Stating that he was “happy and relaxed” after being dropped as minister by the chief minister, Dhavalikar said: “My removal cleared speculations about the alliance, as BJP did not bow to MG Party's demand to drop Laxmikant Parsekar from the chief ministerial post.”
“In fact, I was expecting this (removal from cabinet) and I am now happy and relaxed. Voters would have gone against us had we to continue as ministers, as Parsekar had failed to fulfil promises made to the public,” said Dhavalikar, who has been a minister with different governments, before being dropped along with is brother, Deepak, from the council of ministers.
ON BJP-MGP ALLIANCE
Asked to comment if the BJP-MGP alliance had been ruptured beyond repair, Dhavalikar said: “The alliance will remain till the election notification is released. We will take the next step after the notification.”
To another query if the MGP would poach candidates from other parties, Dhavalikar replied in the negative.
“We will not 'import' candidates from other parties. We can consider those with good political career. We will immediately start our work in 22 constituencies, while in eight other constituencies, we will work in a phased manner. Our candidates will be educated and cultured,” he said.
ON MGP'S REVIVAL
Claiming that MGP's glorious past could be revived in the State, Dhavalikar said: “Between 1963 and 1979, MG Party had given good administration and governance, taking all into confidence. Credit for that goes to first chief minister Dayanand (Bhausaheb) Bandodkar and Shashikalatai Kakodkar. The MG Party assures that the same regime can be brought back to Goa.”
“We know the administration and can work in the interest of public,” Dhavalikar, who was first elected as MLA in 1999 and served four terms in Marcaim, told The Goan.
Asked about his aspirations to become Goa's next chief minister and whether he would get the Centre's support after having severed ties with the State BJP, Dhavalikar said: “BJP at the Centre and RSS know the situation in Goa. They will definitely lend me a helping hand. I have good relations with all of them,” he said.
ON LANGUAGE, BBSM
Speaking on the language issue, Dhavalikar said that while Marathi language had already been given a boost, there was a need to promote Konkani.
“We should protect languages of this land. Marathi will be given justice. But first, we have to resurrect Konkani, which should be taken to greater heights.”
He said the MGP would go through the policies of Bhartiya Bhasha Surakhsa Manch (BBSM), before deciding on whether or not to have an alliance with BBSM's political wing, Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM).
