PANAJI
State Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) alliance partner Maharashtrawadi Gomatak Party (MGP) has demanded removal of Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar if the BJP wants to continue with the alliance in the upcoming State Legislative Assembly polls.
Speaking to media persons after chairing the crucial meeting of MGP’s central committee in Panaji, MGP President Deepak Dhavalikar said, “We had a pre-poll alliance with the BJP in 2012 considering Manohar Parrikar as the chief minister. But after Parrikar was elevated as the Defence Minister and had to go to Delhi, Parsekar was forced on us as the chief minister without taking us into confidence.”
Stating that MGP cannot go for polls under the leadership of Parsekar, Dhavalikar said, “We cannot go ahead with such a leader. Our central committee is of the opinion that the BJP should declare their leader first, he should be sworn in and then they should start with the talks on alliance. Our alliance was limited to the fact that Parrikar would be the chief minister.”
Complaining about Parsekar, he said, “During the last few days he issued two circulars without even taking us into confidence.”
Exuding confidence that MGP is capable of going single in the upcoming polls, he said, “We have not spoken to any party about alliance. We are presently in an alliance with the BJP. We have taken several decisions in today’s meeting which have been reserved. They will be announced only after the code of conduct comes into force.”
“We are strong in 22-23 constituencies. Once the public meetings begin, we will move ahead as per the conditions prevalent”, he said adding that talks on alliance with BJP have still not moved ahead.
MGP has also decided to start with their election campaign for the upcoming assembly polls on December 11. On the same day itself, MGP will hold public meeting Ponda. Additionally, MGP has sought applications from candidates aspiring to contest the upcoming State Legislative Assembly polls by December 30.
“After the MGP's Parliamentary Board is formed, all these applications will be scrutinised”, he said.
