PANAJI
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar took the battle to the Dhavalikar camp setting a pre-condition that the MGP will have to be in different hands if the BJP is to ally with them.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in the city, Parsekar said that while he has great respect for the MGP, as a party, the party is in wrong hands and unless that changes, there would be no question of an alliance.
“I have huge respect for the MGP. The party is there since I was a kid. The taluka affairs were run from my house. I am proud of the party and love it. It is a party which cares for the Bahujan Samaj. But it is today in the wrong hands,” Parsekar said.
He said that ideally the second ministerial berth that the BJP gave to the MGP should have gone to Lavu Mamledar but both the brothers retained not just the ministerial berths but also the party positions.
“We had decided to give them two -- Do both go to the brothers? And then what kind of Bahujan Samaj Party is it? When it comes to naming party chief, even the party chief is in the same family? What are the others there for? To shout slogans?” Parsekar asked adding that “really speaking, the ministerial berth should have gone to Lavu.”
“But it is a decision to be taken within the party. Why should I interfere?” he said.
“It pains me a lot. But the way the party is being handled, it makes me angry. It is not the party of Bhausaheb Bandodkar. These people have ruined it. So, after a lot of thought, if the right men are in charge of this party, I will love the party as much as I love the BJP. It should be in the right hands. I have a soft corner for that party because of many of the functions of the party happened in my house when I was young,” he said.
He, however, said that whether the MGP would ensure a change in leadership was in their own hands. “It is my opinion. At the end of the day, it is in their hands. They have to take such a decision who they leave the party in the hands of,” he said.
Earlier Parsekar said that the decision had to be taken as the constant allegations from the Dhavalikar brothers was sending a wrong message and demoralising the party cadre.
“It was sending a wrong signal. They used to make allegations after allegations. And my party cadre across the state was demoralized. I can suffer a lot of pain and struggle but the the party cadre was demoralised. The party cadre is our asset. The decision had to be taken,” Parsekar said.
