PANAJI
The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party on Monday rubbished claims that two of its MLAs had held secret parleys with the BJP’s central observers and agreed to ‘merge’ with the saffron party.
Flanked by the party’s two MLAs, Tourism Minister Manohar (Babu) Ajgaonkar and Deepak Pauskar, the MGP president Dipak Dhavalikar told a news conference that some private news portal was spreading the “mischievous” reports and flatly denied any such possibility.
Dhavalikar said, there is no question of merger of the MGP with the BJP.
“No question of merger at any cost. I’ve said it before and I am repeating it today,” Dhavalikar, who triggered the ongoing political chaos of the last few days by pitching for his elder brother and PWD Minister Sudin, to hold charge of the Chief Minister’s Office to ensure the administration does not suffer due to the ailing Manohar Parrikar’s frequent absence, said.
Dhavlikar said, the party was still awaiting the response of the senior alliance partner to their proposal of either designating Sudin as the Deputy Chief Minister or giving him charge of the CMO. “It is a proposal we (MGP) have presented to the BJP central observers as a member of ruling coalition. It is for the BJP central leadership and the ruling coalition to take the decision on it,” Dhavalikar junior said.
He said, as members of the coalition, the Goa Forward Party MLAs led by TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai and the three Independent MLAs were within their rights to either oppose or back the MGP’s proposal.
“But a final decision will have to be taken by the BJP leadership,” Dhavalikar said.
Ajgaonkar, meanwhile, said there was no truth in the reports suggesting that MGP MLAs were willing to merge with the BJP.
Where’s the need? I am already a minister, What will I gain more than what I have by merging,” Ajgaonkar asked.
Pauskar also rubbished reports and denied having met the BJP central observers separately. He said, other than the meeting he had along with Dhavalikar Sr and Ajgaonkar with the BJP observers on Sunday he has had no other interaction with the Central emissaries.
Pauskar also said that his official car may have been spotted parked at a prominent city hotel because he spent the night there instead of going back to Sanvordem late on Sunday night.
The two MGP MLAs also questioned the wisdom of the GFP MLAs and the three Independents meeting the BJP emissaries in a group of six.
“They should have let us know. They should have also taken us along. We are also part of the coalition. We would then have become a stronger group of nine,” Ajgaonkar said.
