Goa: Arvind Kejriwal meets Ramkrishna Dhavalikar, parties to explore pre-poll alliance for 2022

PANAJI: With a common aim to take on BJP in the upcoming assembly elections, Goa’s oldest regional party, MGP, and AAP are exploring the possibility of a pre-poll alliance.
AAP’s national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who arrived on a two-day visit to Goa to review the party’s preparations for the 2022 polls, held a meeting with MGP’s senior functionaries, former deputy chief minister Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar, and his brother, MGP president Pandurang ‘Deepak’ Dhavalikar. The meeting went on for around 45 minutes.
MGP tried to make light of the meeting. The former deputy CM said that they did not discuss active politics, and it was just a courtesy visit. “We have discussed each other’s work done in Goa and Delhi,” he said.
During the meeting, both parties discussed the current political situation in the state, and how to go ahead in the future. MGP sources said that its functionaries told Kejriwal that they have to seek the opinion of the people before deciding on the alliance.
A political observer said that while AAP is trying to expand its base in Goa, it would be interesting to see how the MGP-APP alliance takes shape. In the recently-concluded zilla panchayat election, AAP was able to open its account by winning the Benaulim seat when its 26-year-old candidate, Hanzel Feliciano Fernandes, won the three-cornered fight.
“AAP has strong presence in South Goa, particularly in Salcete, whereas MGP is strong in Ponda and in North Goa,” the political observer said.
Kejriwal was busy in the evening meeting with party functionaries and taking review of the work being done by AAP in the state. President of Association of Tourist Taxi Owners Chetan Kamat joined AAP. Earlier, undeterred by the inclement weather, large number of AAP volunteers gathered at the airport.