MGP to contest elections independently

Panaji, May 8 (UNI) The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) has decided to contest the June 2 assembly elections in the state on its own.

MGP president Pandurang Raut and general secretary Pradeep Naik, addressing a press conference here today, said the party has already announced the names of 23 candidates and it will contest 30 of the 40 seats.

They said the MGP will not have a tie-up with any other political party, and will contest the elections on its own.

The MGP did not file any nominations on the opening day today.

Most MGP nominees will be young, Mr Raut and Mr Naik said, adding that scheduled caste and backward clases will also be given representation.

While maintaining that the MGP will maintain equal distance from the BJP and the Congress, they, however, parried questions on the continuation of the sole MJP member, PWD Minister Sudin Dhawlikar, in the Congress-led government.

UNI