PANAJI
The State Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday stated that Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) president Deepak Dhavalikar has not conveyed to them about his intentions of contesting from Shiroda constituency instead of Priol.
Speaking to The Goan, BJP State president Vinay Tendulkar said, “I don’t know why he is looking at leaving Priol and contesting from Shiroda. May be he is scared. It might also be that he has just spoken about it to the press, but he has not taken up the issue with us.”
Dhavalikar, in an interview with The Goan, had stated that if he has to continue his political career, he has to contest from a constituency where MGP has a stronghold.
“If I have to continue my political career, I have to contest from a constituency where we have a stronghold. And I find this stronghold first in Shiroda and second in Cumbarjua. Hence, I prefer Shiroda. Let the BJP high command decide if any situation as such arises,” Dhavalikar had stated.
Speaking further, Tendulkar said that usually in an alliance, the alliance partner does not demand the seat where the coalition leader already has a sitting MLA. Presently, Shiroda constituency is represented by BJP legislator Mahadev Naik, who also holds the Industries portfolio.
“We already have a sitting MLA in Shiroda. When any party decide on the alliance, the coalition party does not ask for the seat where there is already a sitting MLA. But this issue will be taken up when we decide on the alliance and we have still not started any discussions on it,” said Tendulkar.
When asked about when the alliance will be decided, referring to statements made by MGP leaders, he said, “The party president himself had said that the talks on alliance will start somewhere in October. The senior leaders of both the parties will hold a combined meeting may be two months prior to the elections.”
