Panaji, Mar 8 (TOI): GFP chief and town and country planning minister Vijai Sardesai on Thursday said MGP’s decision to contest the byelections has created a picture of uncertainty in the government. He alleged that MGP, which is a coalition partner in the BJP-led government along with GFP, has an internal tie-up with Congress.
Rubbishing the statement, MGP president Pandurang Dhavalikar wondered why Sardesai was upset about MGP contesting the Shiroda seat when BJP was not so worried. “We are very much with BJP. I don’t know what he is dreaming about. BJP is not worried about me contesting the Shiroda seat, but GFP is more worried.”
Dhavalikar said MGP was confident of winning both byelection seats — Mandrem and Shiroda. “Sardesai might be getting nightmares,” he added, hinting at the growing strength of MGP.
Stating that the regional party has always helped Congress win when the fight turned into BJP vs MGP, Sardesai said, “Why will the same thing not repeat in Mandrem and Shiroda byelections? Statistics and history show that fighting between MGP and BJP has resulted in a third party winning and it is possible that history will repeat itself.”
Questioning the stability of the government in case BJP loses the two seats, Sardesai added that he had also raised apprehension over the health of the government in the eventuality that coalition partners contest the byelection against each other.
The GFP chief said that in this situation one has to look at whether the alliance partner is actually in the coalition or not. “If you were so much in the lead to make Manohar Parrikar the chief minister, who is the chief minister now? Why is MGP contesting now? What will happen if BJP loses the seat. Will MGP remain in the coalition?”
Congress he said is attacking BJP because it is a national enemy. Next they will attack GFP, he added.
Reacting to BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar statement that the party was confident that MGP would not contest the byelection, Sardesai said, “Tendulkar is a good man, but it doesn’t help to be over confident.”
Asked about Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s visit the state on Friday, Sardesai said like 6.4 million tourists come to the state, in the same way Gandhi, too, will visit the state.