the goan I network
PANAJI
Speaking to media persons, Dhavalikar said, “In 2014, when Manohar Parrikar was elevated as the Defence minister, he told me to merge MGP with BJP and become the chief minister and take the party ahead. I declined the offer.”
He also revealed that twice he declined the offer made by the Congress too to merge MGP and become the CM.
“If I wanted to become the CM, I would have accepted that offer at that time itself. I declined both as I wanted to keep MGP alive. Politicians have always criticised me stating that I first supported Congress and then BJP. If we had not done this, MGP would have been finished by now,” he said.
Stating that critics should stop saying that MGP is a private limited company, he said, “I may have taken birth in a Brahmin family, but this is Bhausaheb’s Party.”
Stating that one has to use ‘Chanakyaniti’ in politics and they have used it since 2002, he said, “After 2017 elections, Goans will be able to see a new picture. I will give you a young Cabinet. Presently, the 12-13 names that have been proposed by the Congress are close to 70 years of age. Goans have to think whether to keep these people in politics or not. I will retire before 70 years of age. Peoples’ expectations are very high and if we have to fulfil these, we need young brigade. I am happy to say that the 22 candidates that we plan to field for the upcoming polls, they are in the age group of 40-55 years. Only four of us are close to 60.”
Stating that being a chief minister is good only if 21 party MLAs get elected, he appealed to people to elected candidates of MGP and Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) in the upcoming assembly polls.
