PANAJI
In a dramatic turn that could reshape the political equations in Ponda, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) leader Ketan Bhatikar has resigned from the party along with his supporters.
The move, confirmed by senior MGP leader and Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on Thursday, comes at a time when Goa’s political landscape is already in flux with the Zilla Panchayat elections underway and the Assembly by poll for Ponda looming.
Bhatikar’s departure is not without context. For weeks, he had been at odds with the Dhavalikar brothers, who publicly opposed his claim to contest the Ponda by poll. Their reluctance stemmed from fears that fielding him could strain the MGP’s alliance with the BJP and jeopardise the cabinet berth.
But Bhatikar, who lost to the late Ravi Naik in 2022 by a wafer thin margin of just 77 votes, saw himself as the natural contender and openly questioned the logic of the party backing out of the race.
The rift widened further when the MGP conceded the Curti Zilla Panchayat seat to the BJP, despite having won it five years ago. The seat falls within the Ponda Assembly constituency, and the decision was viewed by Bhatikar’s camp as a surrender of political ground.
Bhatikar’s exit is expected to intensify the churn in Ponda, a constituency already bracing for a high stakes by poll following Naik’s demise.
For the Dhavalikars-led MGP, the resignation underscores the delicate balance between alliance politics and grassroots aspirations. While concessions to the BJP may secure short term stability in government, they risk alienating loyal cadres.
As campaigning for the Zilla Panchayat polls gathers pace, Bhatikar’s dramatic exit adds a fresh layer of uncertainty, setting the stage for a turbulent run up to the Ponda by poll and, potentially, a reconfiguration of Goa’s political landscape.
