AERIAL VIEW
There is no denying that despite spewing venom on the last Pramod Sawant government, Dhavalikar enjoyed an excellent repo with BJP national leaders like Nitin Gadkari and Amit Shah.
That was one of the reasons that soon after the BJP won 20 seats, Amit Shah rang Dhavalikar and requested his support.
That is one of the reasons, Dhavalikar – who is a hard negotiator when it comes to politics, extended unconditional support to the BJP, so much so that he did not utter a word even when the BJP did not name him in the first list of ministers sworn in on March 28.
More than the support in Assembly, the BJP wants the support of MGP in the 2024 parliamentary polls. In the 2019 polls, BJP candidate Narendra Sawaikar lost by a narrow margin of around 7000 votes, mainly because Sudin Dhavalikar worked against him after being sacked unceremoniously from the Cabinet.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
Soon after the results, when the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis announced that the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) had extended its support to the BJP, there was resentment amongst the newly-elected MLAs.
Most of the MLAs, including the new and the old, were of the opinion that the support should not be accepted as the MGP has always criticised the Dr Pramod Sawant government. They also recalled that Sudin Dhavalikar had categorically said that he would not support the BJP just a day before counting.
So the obvious question from MLAs was, “Why does the MGP want to support the BJP now? Just because BJP has won the 20 seats?”
Would MGP support BJP if it had 17 seats? NO, they said.
Amongst those who opposed Sudin getting a Cabinet berth were Ravi Naik, Govind Gaude, Subash Shirodkar, Atanasio Monseratte and Nilkanth Halarnkar.
Interestingly, all those who were against Dhavalikar;’s entry have been made ministers.
There is no denying that despite spewing venom on the last Pramod Sawant government, Dhavalikar enjoyed an excellent repo with BJP national leaders like Nitin Gadkari and Amit Shah.
That was one of the reasons that soon after the BJP won 20 seats, Amit Shah rang Dhavalikar and requested his support.
That is one of the reasons, Dhavalikar – who is a hard negotiator when it comes to politics, extended unconditional support to the BJP, so much so that he did not utter a word even when the BJP did not name him in the first list of ministers sworn in on March 28.
More than the support in Assembly, the BJP wants the support of MGP in the 2024 parliamentary polls. In the 2019 polls, BJP candidate Narendra Sawaikar lost by a narrow margin of around 7000 votes, mainly because Sudin Dhavalikar worked against him after being sacked unceremoniously from the Cabinet.
In 2024, BJP feels every seat would be crucial, hence laying more emphasis on the South Goa seat.
Also, Dhavalikar is a veteran politician who has served as Dy CM in 2019 before being dropped, and his experience would come in handy for Dr Pramod Sawant.
In Cabinet expansion today, while Sudin Dhavalikar, Subash Phadesai and Nilkanth Halarnkar got the call for the final three slots, Aleixo Reginald Lourenco, Anton Vas and Dr Chandrakant Shetye missed the bus.
More shocking was Aleixo Reginald being left out of the 12-member team as he was considered a firm favourite and also a close friend of CM Pramod Sawant.
Nonetheless, what was the real reason to leave him out would be known in future or whether he would be given a crucial corporation, only time will tell.
Otherwise, keeping all three independent MLAs out really does not make any sense for the BJP, whose strength otherwise in the House is only 22.
It could be suicidal for Dr Pramod Sawant to keep the independents out, as with 22 in his kitty, he would be walking on a thin layer of ice as Opposition strength becomes 18 now.
Also, given the cold war between the CM and Vishwajit Rane, who has two seats, including his wife Deviya, the developments in the coming days would be pretty interesting.
