PANAJI
In a surprise political twist, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) faces internal turbulence after its former Ponda MLA and party leader Ketan Bhatikar announced his decision to contest the upcoming Ponda bypoll, despite the party’s official stand to stay out of the race.
The seat has fallen vacant following the demise of Minister Ravi Naik, and the MGP had recently declared that it would maintain its alliance with the BJP and not field a candidate.
However, Bhatikar on Monday said he was determined to contest, either as a BJP-MGP-supported candidate or as an independent.
“This is democracy, and the people of Ponda will decide who their representative should be,” Bhatikar said on Prudent Media’s Head On.
Reacting swiftly, MGP veteran and Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said the party would persuade Bhatikar to reconsider his move. He acknowledged that Bhatikar might have felt hurt after being denied a chance to contest, despite his grassroots work in Ponda.
“I appreciate his statement. We are in alliance with the BJP, and our party chief has already decided that we will not contest the Ponda bypoll. This is our final stand. I will speak to Ketan Bhatikar, who is our good leader. I admit he is hurt as he has been working for the people there, but I will try to convince him not to contest,” Dhavalikar said.
Several locals and Bahujan Samaj representatives had urged that Ravi Naik's son Ritesh be elected unopposed as a tribute to the late leader's immense contribution to Goa.
On the other hand, the BJP Goa President Damu Naik on Sunday said that the party will follow the procedures and the central leadership will decide the candidature.
