the goan I network
PONDA
Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) President and former minister Deepak Dhavalikar on Thursday insisted that the BJP should have no objection to his candidature in the Shiroda by-poll as the MGP had fought the last assembly elections independently.
Speaking to The Goan, Dhavalikar also said he is not committed to BJP and had no political restrictions.
“Why should the BJP ask me to change my decision to contest the Shiroda by-poll? I have no such restrictions,” said Dhavalikar, when asked to defend his decision to contest the by-poll at a time when the MGP is in an alliance with the BJP in the
State government.
“The BJP should not have any objection against my decision to contest the by-election from Shiroda as we had no pre-poll alliance. We fought last assembly election independently. We then helped the BJP to form the government with the support from three of our MLAs. On getting elected, I will be fourth one to support this government,” he said.
“I am firm on my decision to contest from Shiroda and we will start campaigning from January 16.”
Meanwhile, Dhavalikar on Thursday sought the blessings of Goddess Navdurga and Saibaba at Borim to contest by-election from Shiroda constituency.
MGP Sanvordem MLA Deepak Prabhu Pauskar and many supporters were present on the occasion.
“I have nothing against the BJP or Congress. But I am here to teach a lesson to a ‘defector’. Those who leave their party and leap into another party for vested interests should be taught a lesson,” justified Dhavalikar.
“Since the high court had rejected our petition seeking to restrain former Congress MLAs Dayanand Sopte and Subhash Shirodkar from contesting the by-elections, we are now seeking justice from the voters. They will teach a lesson to this defector (Subhash Shirodkar),” he added.
Though election dates have not been declared as yet, Dhavalikar has declared his decision and is optimistic about winning the Shiroda by-poll.
Asked if he had lost interest in contesting from Priol, Dhavalikar replied, “At present, I am contesting from Shiroda. Let us decide about Priol when the general elections are declared.”
