PANAJI
Refreshed and relieved by the BJP’s performance Chief Minister Pramod Sawant not-so-gently taunted Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party leader and Marcaim MLA Sudin Dhavalikar, whose political stock rose high following exit polls and came crashing down days later after a poor showing by the party on Thursday.
Soon after the MGP offered a letter of unconditional support of its two MLAs -- Dhavalikar and Jit Arolkar -- to the BJP in the latter’s bid for power, Sawant was asked to comment on Dhavalikar’s criticism of his chief ministership and an oral condition laid down by the MGP leader some days back pitching opposition to Sawant’s cabinet leadership.
Sawant with a smile said that the letter of support extended by the MGP showed no such objection or reservation against him.
“They have given unconditional support in their letter,” Sawant said, adding that a decision on whether the BJP would accept support from the MGP and three independent MLAs would have to be signed off on by the party’s central parliamentary board.
“No decision taken yet. Decisions will be taken by the parliamentary board observer,” the Chief Minister said.
Sawant also raised doubts over whether the Revolutionary Goans Party had soared in popularity over the MGP, citing his own constituency as an illustration.
“We got no advantage of a vote split. They (opposition) have diverted votes. If you check my constituency (Sanquelim), MGP has got only 212 votes. MGP has 2,500 to 3,000 votes in my constituency. This result means RG is bigger than them (MGP). RG got around 600 to 700 votes,” Sawant said.
Two years after being sacked from the Sawant cabinet, Dhavalikar’s political stock appeared to have soared after exit polls predicted that the MGP-TMC could win as many between five to nine seats.
When results were finally declared on Thursday, MGP managed to win only two seats, while the TMC could not open its account.
Before the declaration of results, the MGP had also said that its leaders would take a call on supporting either the Congress or the BJP after discussions with its alliance partner TMC.
When asked if the MGP’s letter of support could have been endorsed by the TMC, Sawant said:
“I do not know if they have asked TMC, but they have given a letter”.
