PANAJI
Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party leader, Ramakrishna 'Sudin' Dhavalikar, who was recently dropped from the State Cabinet, on Thursday addressed an impromptu gathering of over 70 people, predominantly belonging to the Muslim community, at Chimbel and sought their support for MGP.
Speaking to the crowd, Dhavalikar confirmed the candidature of Prakash 'Pakaa' Naik for MGP in St Cruz constituency, thereby laying to rest the speculations surrounding the rumour that MGP is in talks with former Congress MLA Victoria Fernandes' son Rodolfo Fernandes.
"We need your support for Prakash. We are giving you a leader who will visit you regularly and not just once in four years," Dhavalikar stated.
Flanked by MGP's Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar, Dhavalikar asked the people of Chimbel to be patient with the MGP on the backdrop of the ongoing crisis over alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party.
"MGP will announce its decision about the alliance with BJP on the very day when the code of conduct is declared in Goa," Dhavalikar assured.
The MGP leader further opined that St Cruz is in dire need of a 'new party' as the parties which represented the constituency in the past have not delivered on any of the pressing issues of the people from the three villages of St Cruz, Merces and Chimbel.
"MGP will prioritise the issue of unemployment, creation of a new community centre in Chimbel and construction of a ground in this village. These issues have been neglected by all the parties elected in St Cruz till date," Dhavalikar said.
Pakaa Naik is the former sarpanch of Merces panchayat, who joined MGP in September 2013. He was subsequently named as the president of MGP's St Cruz block. Prior to this, Pakaa was the vice-president of Congress' St Cruz Block and worked very closely with Rodolfo.
In 2012, when Victoria and Rodolfo were denied the St Cruz ticket by Congress, Pakaa had united the block in issuing a threat of resignation. He was instrumental in securing 6,308 votes for Rodolfo, who contested the seat as an independent candidate. Atanasio 'Babush' Monserrate of Congress won the seat with 8,644 votes. Dinar Tarcar was the MGP candidate from St Cruz. Tarcar secured the third position with 5,842 votes.
The constituency was represented by Victoria 'Mummy' from 1994 till 2012, who served one term as an independent and three as a Congress legislator. Prominent leader Anil Hoble failed to defeat Victoria in 1999, 2002 and in 2007.
Hoble contested on the MGP ticket in 1999 and won 3,442 votes against the towering 8,829 bagged by Victoria. Last Assembly polls had MGP contest from St Cruz again, as a part of their seat-sharing understanding with alliance partner BJP. However, with MGP and BJP engaged in brinkmanship since the last couple of weeks, the political fate of St Cruz has yet to be sealed.
