Panaji, Sep 20 (TOI): With the political balance seemingly tilting in favour of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) in the state, PWD minister and senior MGP leader Ramkrishna 'Sudin' Dhavalikar on Monday, advised the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) to 'think wisely' over their decision of joining politics and expressed his desire to become the next CM of the state.

On the support extended to his CM ambitions by RSS chief of Goa prant Subhash Velingkar, Dhavlikar said that nobody could make anyone CM. The person should have luck and the backing of 21 MLAs. "I am one of the senior most ministers and an MLA. What is the final step? It is that (of becoming the chief minister), and without wining 21 seats how can one become a CM?" he added.

Dhavalikar's intention has been an open secret for sometime now, but the BJP is nonplussed and that came out in Manohar Parrikar's statement over the weekend that the national party would not think twice to contest all 40 constituencies in the state.

BBSM's deadline to MGP over joining them as an alliance partner ends on September 30. On BBSM's decision to nominate candidates against the MGP in case they don't align with the BBSM, Dhavalikar said that BBSM had not launched their party as yet. "We support the BBSM agitation. That does not mean we oppose each other in elections," he said.

He added that the MGP had started strengthening its party base in constituencies where the party lost during the 2012 assembly elections. "People in those constituencies are in favour of continuing the alliance with the BJP," he said.

"BBSM has taken up a good issue (medium of instruction), but before stepping into the political arena, they should think wisely," added Dhavalikar and expressed his desire to become the next chief minister of the state as the people of the state wanted MGP back in power.

He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a road safety function.

Reacting to defence minister Manohar Parrikar's statement that the BJP was capable of contesting 40 seats in the 2017 polls, he said, "We also have the right to contest elections and anyone can issue statements. We will start alliance talks after October 4. Both parties want to continue the alliance. Seat sharing will not take place before the election notification."

"Around 25 people, including independent MLAs and former MLAs have approached MGP and shown their willingness to join the party and we are open to inducting them," said Dhavalikar. Asked whether Bicholim MLA Naresh Sawal and Congress Cumbharjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar will be inducted, Dhavalikar said that any person who respected the party's ideology would be inducted.

TOI had reported earlier that with Dhavalikar being popular with political leaders across party lines, his chief ministerial prospects looked bright for the 2017 polls. Also, BJP had strategically appointed Nitin Gadkari as the state BJP election-in-charge, given his good relations with the Dhavalikar brothers.
He appealed to Goans who have acquired Portuguese nationality to renounce it and come back to Goa to protect the state's interest.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the road safety week, Dhavalikar said those who have acquired Portuguese nationality are the sons of the soil. "I request them to give up Portuguese nationality as only a Goan can protect the interest of the state."