MGP in win-win situation on results day eveGauree Malkarnekar, TNN | Mar 6, 2012, 01.37AM IST Tweet <http://twitter.com/share>
PANAJI: The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) ruled as coalition partners in the Digambar Kamat government for the last five years. On the eve of results of the 2012 Goa general assembly elections, MGP feels safe and confident with pre-poll alliance partners Bharatiya Janata Party, in whose favour the exit polls swing. MGP's heavyweight Ramakrishna 'Sudin' Dhavalikar, contesting from the Marcaim constituency, had made it clear that the pre-poll alliance does not commit the party to extend post-poll support to BJP. With this, the MGP has placed itself in a win-win situation. Does it make MGP the ultimate opportunists in these elections? "During the last elections, it was a hung assembly. This was the decision of the voters. "To form the government, we decided to back the Congress as government formation is our prime duty," Dhavalikar said, speaking to TOI during the run-up to the elections. The MGP has been part of the Congress-led government when some of the most controversial issues shrouded the ruling faction. The regional party has largely campaigned during the March 3, 2012, elections coming down heavily on the Congress government on the very same issues that it had been an obvious party to being an alliance partner. "The MGP has always been in support of Marathi as the medium of instruction (MOI) at the primary-level and with time decided to support Konkani as well. It has to be noted that the MGP has been part of all protests that took place around the state against the government's decision to extend grants to English medium primary schools. I had even told the Congress high command during a meeting that the medium of instruction issue will prove fatal for the Congress in these elections," Dhavalikar said, washing his hands of the MoI controversy. In the case of illegal mining too, Dhavalikar is quick to add, "MGP is against illegal mining and wants it to be stopped. There is no two ways about it. It will eventually happen when the Shah Commission report is out. No one can stop the report from coming out." The MGP may have ensured a secure place for itself in the government if either the Congress or the BJP rule the state, but dreams of an MGP chief minister are out of reach for the party for now with a shrunken voter base. "MGP has never wanted a position only for the sake of being in power. MGP has a history of ruling Goa for 17 years and giving Goa all it has wanted. The party then saw some opportunist leaders leave. But now we have taken a decision that leaders who have left and want to join MGP back will be given a position as committee members in the party only after five years of working for the party. This will give MGP committed leaders and make it a frontrunner in politics in near future," Dhavalikar said. Goa Assembly Elections 2012<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/goa-assembly-elections/assemblyarticlelist/11352210.cms> Elections 2012 News<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/assembly-elections-2012-news/assemblyarticlelist/11352142.cms> COMMENT: MGP worse than Pariahs? -- DEV BOREM KORUM Gabe Menezes. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
