Deputy Chief Minister and senior leader of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) Sudin Dhavalikar, who was also Minister for Public Works, was dropped from the Cabinet on Wednesday morning by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.

Mr. Dhavalikar was dropped following a split in the three-member MGP, with two of his colleagues merging the split legislative wing into BJP.

Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Dhavlikar said, “At night, the ‘chowkidars’, by committing biggest dacoity on MGP, have shocked the people of Goa. People of Goa are watching this. People will decide on the course of action.”

One of the two MGP MLAs who joined BJP, Manohar Ajgaonkar, is a Minister in the BJP-led coalition government. The other MLA, Deepak Pauskar, is expected to be sworn in as a Cabinet Minister later in the evening after Goa Governor Mridula Sinha, who is out of station, arrives in Goa, Chief Minister Sawant has confirmed.

The political development and rift between the ruling BJP and the MGP is expected to heat up in the campaign of the upcoming general elections for two Lok Sabha seats and three assembly seats. Sources in the MGP have indicated that it will field candidates against the BJP. Dipak Dhavlikar, brother of Mr. Dhavlikar is already in the fray in the Shiroda by-poll and has refused to withdraw from it despite repeated pleas from the BJP to its ally.