Sudin Dhavalikar, who was the Dy CM then, was sacked unceremoniously by splitting the two MGP MLAs – Deepak Pauskar and Babu Azgaonkar.
Not just MGP, Sawant also sacked Goa Forward MLAs – Vijai Sardesai, Vinod Payekar and Jayesh Salgaocar after engineering a major split in Opposition Congress, he took the decision wherein 10 MLAs joined the BJP in a midnight coup. He also sacked independent MLA Rohan Khaunte.
This all happened in 2019. Two years later, the situation is quite different. Sawant is in command but has lost control simply because BJP has failed to follow the “alliance dharma” as such, now no party wants to tie up with the party, which does not keep up its promises.
For all along, Sawant kept saying BJP will win 22 seats on its own, but now all of a sudden says that doors are open for alliance with like-minded parties.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
With just three months left for the Goa Legislative Assembly elections, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has 27 MLAs in its kitty, seems to have become edgy with every passing day.
The party is making hectic moves to forge an alliance with Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP).
With several parties like AAP and TMC making inroads in Goa, BJP’s only chance of getting the majority is protecting the division of Hindu votes.
Hence, the party has become even more desperate for an alliance with MGP.
BJP clearly understands that with anti-people decisions in the last five or 10 years, the sentiments of Goans is against the saffron-brigade, and despite having a brute majority, for now, they are uncomfortable and unsure of victory. They may make any statements in public, but the reality is quite different.
Insiders say the BJP wants an alliance with MGP by hook or crook.
MGP is the same party that Dr Pramod Sawant had dumped post him taking over as the chief minister of Goa.
Sudin Dhavalikar, who was the Dy CM then, was sacked unceremoniously by splitting the two MGP MLAs – Deepak Pauskar and Babu Azgaonkar.
Not just MGP, Sawant also sacked Goa Forward MLAs – Vijai Sardesai, Vinod Payekar and Jayesh Salgaocar after engineering a major split in Opposition Congress, he took the decision wherein 10 MLAs joined the BJP in a midnight coup. He also sacked independent MLA Rohan Khaunte.
This all happened in 2019. Two years later, the situation is quite different. Sawant is in command but has lost control simply because BJP has failed to follow the “alliance dharma” as such, now no party wants to tie up with the party, which does not keep up its promises.
For all along, Sawant kept saying BJP will win 22 seats on its own, but now all of a sudden says that doors are open for alliance with like-minded parties.
Unfortunately, it’s too late for Sawant, like is no “like-minded” party that wants to forge an alliance with you as they cannot trust you, for you may dump them midway.
In that desperation, BJP has again brought in their “Man Friday” Nitin Gadkari to negotiate with MGP.
Gadkari and Maharashtra former CM Devendra Fadnavis are holding negotiations with Sudin Dhavalikar.
But MGP Central Committee has now resolved to go all alone, which gives very little scope for further discussions on the alliance.
The MGP is justified in taking that decision if they really stand by it.
Why won’t they? They were insulted, sacked without any reason as Sawant wanted a one-man show in the cabinet.
The situation is now grim; many of the cabinet ministers in the Sawant government are unsure of contesting on BJP tickets.
Take, for example, Michael Lobo, Filipe Neri etc.
Also, out of 10 MLAs who switched over to BJP, only a few may re-contest on BJP tickets.
So while BJP is extending a hand of friendship, there is none to shake hands with as the party has a shady past record.
