Our support to BJP will continue: Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party

The friction between MGP and Parsekar began when the former asserted that they will not enter into a pre-poll alliance with the BJP for the upcoming assembly polls if Parsekar continues to lead

Panaji, Dec 13: Hours after two of its ministers were sacked from the Goa cabinet by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) today said they would continue their support to the government as part of their "coalition dharma".

"We will abide by coalition dharma. Our support to BJP will continue till election code of conduct (for the upcoming Goa Assembly election) comes in force," MGP President Dipak Dhavalikar told PTI today. Dhavalikar said his party (MGP) will fulfil its commitment made towards the BJP when they forged a pre-poll alliance with them before the 2012 assembly elections. "Our support continues for the government.

That is what I can tell you right now," he said refusing to answer any further questions. In a late night development, the CM sacked two of his MGP colleagues from the state cabinet following their outburst against the BJP-led government raising prospects of new permutations and combinations in Goa going to polls next year.

Parsekar faxed the communication to Goa Governor Mridula Sinha late night recommended dropping of Sudin Dhavlikar and Dipak Dhavlikar from the cabinet. With this, the total number of ministers in Parsekar-led cabinet is reduced to ten.

While Sudin was holding Transport and Public works department portfolios, Dipak was Rural Development Agency and Factories and Boilers minister in Parsekar led cabinet. After their removal from the cabinet, all the portfolios allotted to the duo were reverted to Parsekar.

The friction between MGP and Parsekar began when the former asserted that they will not enter into a pre-poll alliance with the BJP for the upcoming assembly polls if Parsekar continues to lead the party.

Sudin Dhavalikar even went on to accuse Parsekar of taking back the state by ten years during his two and half year old rule in the state while Dipak had dared the BJP to dissolve the Assembly and face election on their own and win majority seats.

Interestingly, RSS rebel Subhash Velingkar-led Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) had proposed alliance with MGP for polls. MGP, the first regional ruling party after Goa was liberated from Portuguese in 1961, had fought 2012 Assembly election in alliance with BJP. While BJP won 21 seats in the 40-member house, MGP was victorious on three.

They later formed the government under leadership of Manohar Parrikar who was later elevated to the Central cabinet replacing him with Parsekar.

PTI