Is MGP the new kingmaker in Goa?

The party had snapped ties with the BJP in January this year

Although unlikely to win many seats, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party could be a likely kingmaker for a new Goa assembly. But, if it does emerge as even the fourth-largest party in the state, say, with about four or five members of legislative party, it could be the key in government formation.

The party won the first elections after the end of Portuguese colonial rule in 1961, lost its mojo after being ousted from power by defections in early 1979.

Some of its candidates have a strong base, and have long-established networks of support in their constituencies. If so, if they win enough seats to dictate the terms of a coalition, it will be mostly thanks to these candidates.

In January, the MGP snapped its alliance with the ruling BJP in Goa. MGP president Deepak Dhavalikar had said his party would contest 22 of the 40 assembly seats and soon formalise an alliance with rebel RSS leader Subhash Velingkar's outfit.

MGP ministers Deepak and Sudin Dhavalikar were sacked by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar from the cabinet in December, following their criticism of his leadership. The sacking of the ministers had virtually signaled the beginning of the end of the alliance between the two parties. "We will contest 22 seats... We already have an in-principle understanding with Goa Suraksha Manch," Dhavalikar said.

OneIndia News