Goa party in talks with Cong on seat-sharing
The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) said on Tuesday that it is still in negotiations with the BJP for a seat sharing alliance in Goa.
The local party, which is being pursued by the BJP for a pre-election tie-up that would polarise the vote in Goa, is known to have kept the backdoor channel to the Congress open, though MGP president Deepak Dhavlikar says no talks are on with the ruling party.
A political force till the early ’80s, the MGP had been practically wiped out by a tide of defections to the Congress and the rise of the BJP in Goa. All that remains of the regional party is now in the hands of the Dhavlikar brothers, Sudin and Deepak, who control the outfit and represent it in the outgoing Assembly.
Cash-rich and opportunistic, the Dhavlikars have moved with the flow of power. After the 2007 result they hitched on to the Congress-NCP government, picking up a Cabinet berth for Sudin Dhavlikar.
Opportunism will once again dictate the MGP agenda. A pre-poll tie-up with the BJP could clip the MGP’s bargaining chances if the Congress comes close to returning to power.
Insiders say one of the sticking points in the BJP-MGP talks has been the number of seats the Dhavlikars want.
Faced with the prospect of de-recognition, the MGP wants to contest Sanvordem, Mayem, Porvorim, Tivim, Santa Cruz, Ponda, Priol, Madkai, Dabolim and Quepem. The party has made it clear it will not compromise on Priol and Madkai, Dabolim and Quepem.
