DEEPAK-SPEAK
>> If we (Deepak & Gadkari) had met personally, I would have explained to him the present facts
>> I started campaigning for the last two-and-a-half months
>> There is strong anti-incumbency against Subhash Shirodkar
>> If I withdraw now, how will I answer the people
PANAJI: MGP president Deepak Dhavlikar on Wednesday said that no local BJP leader had contacted him demanding that he rescind his decision to contest the April 23 by-election from Shiroda constituency.
"In these circumstances, why should I go back on my decision to contest in Shiroda," he asked when contacted.
"Union Minister Nitin Gadkari spoke to me over the cell phone of my brother Sudin Dhavlikar and requested me not to contest the elections. But I have told him that it is too late now. He didn’t say anything further," the former minister said.
If we had met personally then I would have explained to him the present facts. I started campaigning for the last two-and-a-half months. There is strong anti-incumbency against Subhash Shirodkar. If I withdraw now, how will I answer the people?," the younger Dhavlikar said while speaking to The Goan.
He said the MGP will campaign for the coalition partner BJP in the Lok Sabha elections as the return of Narendra Modi as PM of India is important. He also said he will support the government if elected and as such there would be no adverse effect for the BJP. Dhavlikar said, Shirodkar resigned as an MLA of the Congress and joined BJP with the confidence that he will be swiftly re-elected and questioned why the BJP was afraid now of his entering the election fray.
Meanwhile, MGP legislator Deepak Pauskar told the media after the brief assembly session on Wednesday that he was fully with the party and would wholeheartedly support the president's election effort if he eventually contests in Shiroda.
He denied reports that he and Cabinet Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar had teamed up to split the MGP and merge with the BJP during the negotiations with BJP central emmisaries - Gadkari and Amit Shah.
"No such thing happened," Pauskar said, while denying the reports.
