PANAJI
After unfailingly crossing swords with his arch-rival MGP's Sundin Dhavalikar on the assembly floor, BJP leader and Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho on Wednesday gave a thumbs-up to the prospects of a BJP-MGP alliance, calling both parties natural political partners, while also sharing a nugget of advice on relationships, both political and personal.
Godinho's approval, however, also came with a classic snub to Dhavalikar, with the cabinet minister offering elaborate sarcastic commentary on the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party leader's reaction to media queries about the possibility of an alliance between the two political parties, which have had a blow-hot-blow-cold relationship over the last few decades.
"I am not a big leader in the BJP. Let our elders decide. My personal opinion is that the (MGP-BJP) alliance should happen. But I do not have the right to say it," Godinho said.
Earlier, when asked as to whether the two parties should come together to contest the 2022 assembly polls, Godinho said: "My clear view on the alliance is that sometimes there are natural partners. And sometimes, despite being natural partners, even the best of partnerships crumbles. But then there is a realisation what have I done, should we come together? we should come together".
"It is similar in a political partnership. Maybe he feels the same way too," Godinho said.
The Transport Minister also said that both Dhavalikar and BJP leaders were mature enough to take a decision over whether the two parties should align or not.
On Tuesday, Dhavalikar while speaking to reporters had offered mixed signals over the prospects of an MGP-BJP alliance. The former Deputy Chief Minister had reluctantly admitted to meeting BJP's Goa election in-charge Devendra Fadnavis, while also adding that politically aligning with the BJP once again, was akin to committing suicide by self-strangulation.
During Dhavalikar's parley on Tuesday with reporters at the state assembly complex, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also happened to briefly interrupt the MGP leader's media interaction, during which both leaders offered awkward smiles to questions about a pre-poll alliance between the two parties.
Godinho on Wednesday offered his own interpretation of Dhavalikar's smile.
"You have seen Sudin's reaction (when asked if the two parties would come together). People saw his smiling face after a long time. His face used to be lined with worry (earlier).
Whatever he said, his smiling face is an indication," Godinho said, while commenting on the possibility of an alliance between the two parties.
