PANAJI
Speaking in complex riddles, MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar first likened yet another alliance with the BJP for the upcoming polls with suicide by self-strangulation, but later grudgingly acknowledged a meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party's election in-charge of Goa and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Dhavalikar, whose party, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party's role during the elections is expected to play a key role in the political fortunes of the BJP in the upcoming polls, also said that the party has open options in 16 out of the 40 assembly seats in the State.
"We have committed suicide with BJP on three occasions, the fourth suicide will be like squeezing one's throat," Dhavalikar told reporters when asked about the possibility of an alliance with the BJP for the 2022 polls.
The MGP first aligned with the BJP in the mid-1990s, but has since ceded political ground to the BJP. The rise of the BJP in Goa has also coincided with the decline in the political prowess of the MGP since in the state.
While the BJP needed the political crutch of the MGP to win its first simple majority in state assembly polls in 2012, the BJP slipped to a poor 13 seats in 2017, after the parties chose to contest the elections independently.
The fluctuating electoral fortunes of the BJP in the two consecutive polls, underlines the importance of the MGP in the BJP's scheme of affairs, something which the Dhavalikars, both Sudin and his brother Deepak are aware of.
While Dhavalikar continues to insist that "in the current situation" he does not want an alliance with the BJP, the senior MGP leader also left a safety valve open by stating that irrespective of his opinion, the decision of the MGP's highest decision-making body, the central committee, which would be ultimately binding.
When asked if an alliance with the BJP was akin to political suicide, why would he agree to a meeting with Fadnavis, Dhavalikar claimed that he does not drive away people who drop by who meet him at his home.
"I have not gone to meet anyone. But if someone comes to meet me, I cannot stop him outside my house. We cannot chase away people who meet me," Dhavalikar said.
And there have been many visitors to the Dhavalikar home in election season, according to the MGP leader.
"I met Prashant Kishor (IPAC), I met Dinesh Gundu Rao (Congress). I meet BJP leaders. I had a meeting with TMC and IPAC... I have met all the leaders, Fadnavis is one of the leaders. I have not spoken about alliance," the MGP leader said, after avoiding acknowledgement of his meeting with Fadnavis initially.
Dhavalikar also said that there is "no scope for 'if' or 'then'" semantics in politics, when asked about what would happen if the MGP's central committee sanctions an alliance with the BJP.
Over the last few weeks, Dhavalikar has consistently come on record denying any possibility of an alliance with the BJP for the 2022 polls. The MGP leader's comments on Tuesday mark the first instance of a watering down in his position vis a vis the possibility of a BJP-MGP alliance.
Dhavalikar also said that he is expected to meet Congress leaders, namely Aleixo Sequeira, All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of Goa Dinesh Gundu Rao and Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat at his residence on Tuesday night.
