After intense discussions at a crucial meeting at Ponda late Friday night, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) finally decided to forge an alliance for the forthcoming Assembly polls and contest all 40 constituencies together.
“The alliance is finalised. Our meeting lasted for almost two hours and we discussed various strategies,” MGP General Secretary and Ponda MLA Lavu Mamledar told The Goan.
According to Mamledar, both political parties will officially announce their alliance as soon as the election code of conduct comes into force.
“We have decided to contest all 40 constituencies together. Our seat-sharing formula is also being worked out,” he said.
According to Mamledar, MGP President and Priol MLA Deepak Dhavalikar, party leader and Marcaim MLA Sudin Dhavalikar, former RSS chief and GSM leader Subhash Velingkar, Subhash Desai and two other leaders of GSM were present at the meeting.
The crucial meeting at Ponda took place shortly after the MGP leaders had convened a meeting at Marcela on Friday evening, where they hit out at the BJP leadership and accused state BJP leaders of cheating the public on several issues.
The MGP leaders then proceeded to Ponda and held talks with the GSM late Friday night
“Our meeting began at around 10 pm and lasted till about 12.05 am,” Mamledar told The Goan. According to sources, both parties wanted the decision to be announced after the election code of conduct came into force.
Earlier in the day, senior MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar had stated that 25 per cent of Goans do not want MGP to align with any other party for the upcoming State Legislative Assembly polls, and that the party is ready to contest in 28 constituencies if the pre-poll alliance with Goa Suraksha Manch does not work out.
Addressing mediapersons, Dhavalikar said, “We are in talks with GSM. If we do not arrive at a consensus, we are ready to face polls independently, like we did in 2007. Now we are prepared to contest in 28 constituencies. And if anyone wants to join us in another 12 constituencies, we will back them."
When asked about any alliance with BJP for the 2017 polls, he replied, “We will announce our decision once the code of conduct comes into effect. BJP claims that they will win 26 seats, which clearly indicates that they do not need us. We will contest in 24 seats. If people decide to revive the party, we should be elected in 21 constituencies at least.”
Dhavalikar was speaking after inducting Vasco-based politician Manesh Arolkar who joined MGP along with 200 of his supporters.
When asked about the reaction in the party after both he and his brother Deepak were dropped from the Cabinet, Dhavalikar said, “During the last one year there was unrest in our party, as many of our committee members used to say that if Godinho is being made the SGPDA chairman then why none of our members are being given that post? I would learn of these things through the central committee. People were happy that we were dropped from the Cabinet. 25 per cent people of Goa don't want MGP aligning with any party for elections, and say that it should go it alone.”
*** PACT SEALED
- During the two-hour long meeting that ended at 12.05 am, MGP and GSM decided to contest all 40 constituencies together
- The alliance will be announced as soon as the code of conduct comes into force
- MGP President and Priol MLA Deepak Dhavalikar, party leader and Marcaim MLA Sudin Dhavalikar, former RSS chief and GSM leader Subhash Velingkar, Subhash Desai and two other GSM leaders were present for the meet
- MGP leader Lavu Mamledar said that seat-sharing formula is also being worked out
