MGP decides not to contest LS polls

PANAJI: Coming out with the information that the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) has a substantial support of 13 per cent voters out of the 11 lakh-odd voter population in Goa, senior MGP leader Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar on Tuesday stated that his party, however, is not fielding its candidates at the April 23 Lok Sabha election, since there is very little time left for campaigning.

“The central committee of the MGP would be deciding on party’s support to the Lok Sabha candidates of other political parties, on April 8, after the deadline ends for withdrawal of nomination papers pertaining to this election,” he informed.

Dhavalikar, addressing a press conference, in the presence of MGP leader Naresh Sawal, also gave indication that the MGP could support other candidates contesting bypolls in Mandrem and Mapusa constituencies. “The executive committee of the MGP should take a related decision by April 3,” he noted.

MGP president Pandurang ‘Deepak’ Dhavalikar is contesting the bypoll from Shiroda constituency, against Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Subhash Shirodkar and Congress candidate Mahadev Naik.

Speaking further, the senior MGP leader said that former general secretary of the MGP Lavu Mamledar along with other MGP leaders namely Ratnakant Mardolkar, Apa Teli and Parshuram Kotkar had, some months ago, attended the inauguration of the office of an independent candidate from Mandrem, Jit Arolkar.

Dhavalikar also informed that Mapusa block president of the MGP Vinod Phadke is of the opinion that like previous instances, the MGP should extend its support to any other candidate contesting bypoll from Mapusa constituency. “The MGP executive committee is in agreement with the recommendation of Phadke,” he pointed out.

The senior MGP leader brushed off the claims of state BJP president Vinay Tendulkar as regards the MGP having been merged with the BJP.

“MGP was founded by Bhausaheb Bandodkar for the benefit of the people, and I am only a soldier of that party having no power to merge it in any other political party,” Dhavalikar clarified, pointing out, “I may get merged with death, but cannot merge the MGP in any other party.” He also urged Tendulkar to refrain from making such “foolish statements.”