MGP’s Sudin Dhavalikar does a U-Turn, says ready to support BJP to form govt in Goa, provided certain conditions are met

PANAJI: Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) supremo Sudin Dhavalikar did a sudden U-Turn on Tuesday, claiming that he was ready to support the BJP to form a government in Goa, provided certain conditions were met by the national party.

Till yesterday, Dhavalikar kept repeating that he would not align with the BJP as they had abruptly dropped him from the government.

The former Deputy Chief Minister told reporters on Tuesday that his party would take a call on supporting either the Congress or the BJP after detailed internal discussions, as stated by IANS.

“Exit polls have opened the eyes of both major parties. I have been saying that the people have supported the MGP this time. We may win six to nine seats and if (alliance partner) Trinamool Congress wins three to four seats we could reach even 13 seats. We will decide our decision after discussion with Trinamool. The decision will be in the interest of Goa and MGP,” Dhavalikar was quoted by IANS.

Dhavalikar has already met Congress’ senior observer for the Goa polls, P Chidambaram and Congress desk in-charge of Goa, Dinesh Gundu Rao and said that his party was open to discussions with the BJP too.

“I have met Chidambaram and Gundu Rao. We discussed various issues. We will be having further discussing with our candidates, after which we will meet Trinamool leaders and take a final decision. If BJP calls us, we will go and meet them too,” he said.

The MGP was in alliance with the BJP from 2017-2019, when they were axed from the government. The BJP also split the MGP, by reducing its three member legislative party to one MLAs, namely Dhavalikar. The MGP had contested the 2022 polls on an anti-BJP plank.

Dhavalikar on Monday had hinted that the party may consider going ahead with the BJP after announcement of results provided that Pramod Sawant is not propped up as the Chief Minister – something that the BJP will not agree to as they have already announced Sawant as the CM face of the party.

Meanwhile, Sawant who spoke to reporters in the national capital after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has said that the party’s central leadership was in touch with the MGP to discuss government formation in Goa.

(with inputs from IANS)