the goan I network
PANAJI/PONDA
The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party which has two berths in the Pramod Sawant-led Cabinet is in a turmoil over the fiat from the ruling coalition’s lead partner -- Bharatiya Janata Party -- to refrain from contesting the by-polls in Shiroda.
Deputy Chief Minister Ramkrishna Sudin Dhavalikar and Pernem MLA Manohar Ajgaonkar took oath as ministers early Tuesday morning but their induction had the rider that the party would not enter the fray in the April 23 by-elections in any of the three seats of Mandrem, Mapusa and Shiroda.
Dhavalikar’s younger brother Deepak who is the MGP president is keen to contest in Shiroda and has even launched his campaign on the ground.
The party’s central committee is also restive over the issue and is upset with the ‘big brother’ attitude of the BJP. The party is, however, hemmed by the cracks that have surfaced in its legislature party. The loyalty of two of its three MLAs has come in question after Ajgaonkar and Deepak Pauskar had briefly flirted with the BJP side on Monday during the power-sharing negotiations with Nitin Gadkari and BJP president Amit Shah.
It was in that moment of weakness that Dhavalikar was forced to accept the no-contest diktat from Shah.
MGP president Deepak Dhavalikar, meanwhile, put up a brave front and said it was too late now to accept the BJP demand to back out from contesting the Shiroda by-election.
On Tuesday morning Dhavalikar who spoke to The Goan said he will contest from Shiroda although the BJP has requested that he back out from the race.
“I am firm on my decision to contest the election as I have got lot of support from Shiroda and hence I can’t even think of not contesting,” he said.
Dhavalikar said, the people of Shiroda want him as their MLA and hence he will not back out from the fray.
“Ministerial berths are not more important than the sentiments of voters. Even if BJP removes our MLAs from the cabinet, we have no issues. It is too late that I should listen to the BJP and back out. Hence I will contest from Shiroda and win the seat,” he said.
Dhavalikar had started his election campaign for Shiroda by-poll and has almost covered the entire constituency by holding meetings.
Dhavalikar’s campaign gained traction and both the Congress and the BJP had begun targeting him during their respective campaigns.
When asked whether the MGP MLAs Manohar Ajgaonkar and Deepak Prabhu Pauskar were supposed to join BJP during recent political event, Deepak Dhavalikar replied positively and said that their attempts failed.
“BJP tried to pull them, but that did not work out for them,” he said, adding that the BJP failed to provide ministerial berths to all their MLAs.
“If they don’t want us then they will lose our support for Lok Sabha election. We have twelve per cent share in both constituencies,” he said.
He, however, said the MGP will support BJP in the Lok Sabha election and wants Narendra Modi to return as prime minister.
“We are with them for Lok Sabha election. But it is too late to back out from Shiroda by-poll as we have already reached to maximum voters” he said.
Sources informed that Dhavalikar has gained so much popularity in Shiroda that his victory is definite.
Sources informed that MGP will hold meeting soon to discuss the recent political events and about the attempts of Manohar Ajaonkar and Deepak Pauskar to leap into BJP.
MGP general secretary Lavu Mamaledar said that they had resolved to support any party which will give them three ministerial berths and three corporations. “We have not given any written undertaking stating that we would not contest all by-polls or LS polls as part of a compromise formula with the coalition government. However, we had taken decision to contest these elections.” Mamledar said.
“I am not aware if anyone has given letter of support to BJP. if it has given by someone then they have defied our resolution.” Mamledar said.
