Goa: BJP ally MGP says can't assure alliance for 2017 polls

Panaji, Mar 14: With Goa set to go to polls next year, cracks seemed to be appearing in the ruling coalition as BJP's ally MGP today expressed discomfort in giving an assurance for a tie-up for the 2017 elections.

Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, however, said they will not snap ties with MGP.

"We can't assure any alliance for 2017 polls. We will take a call on it four months prior to the election (in 2017)," Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) president Dipak Dhavalikar told reporters today.

He was asked on prospects of poll alliance with BJP for the 2017 elections after the government completed four years in office on March 9.

Dhavalikar said party workers were not happy with BJP's attitude towards them.

Later, Parsekar told reporters, "We will not stop MGP from severing the ties. We can't keep anyone under lock and key. But from our side we will not break the alliance."

MGP and BJP had fought the 2012 polls together. MGP was an ally of Congress during the Digambar Kamat government from 2005 to 2012, but later joined hands with BJP.

PTI