Panaji: In what could shock Manohar Parrikar and BJP, their allies MGP leader and PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on Friday, apparently, visited All India Congress Committee (AICC) head office in New Delhi sparking speculations about his party’s possible move to join hands with opposition to stake claim for new coalition government in Goa.
Dhavalikar visited AICC office, hour after he had a marathon meeting with Parrikar at AIIMS over State administration, development and on government stability. The meeting was also attended by Goa Forward President and TCP Minister Vijay Sardesai.
What is more interesting is that the Dhavalikar visit to AICC coincides with Goa Congress Chief Girish Chodankar, who made courtesy call to AICC president Rahul Gandhi.
Dhavalikar, who along with his two MLAs, have extended support to Parrikar led government in March 2017, is learnt to be unhappy over Chief Minister’s refusal to hand over some crucial portfolios like finance and home, which the former was eyeing for. Also, Dhavalikar’s nomination as the next Chief Minister in absence of ailing Parrikar, as proposed by MGP, was strongly opposed by MLAs from GFP and Independents.
Sources reveal that Dhavalikar inclination towards Congress is over possible fear of Chief Minister plotting to dissolve the Assembly before 2019 Lok Sabha elections and go for polls simultaneously.
“Congress has been in talks with MGP for quite some time now based on which they have been claiming of having the numbers to prove majority on the floor,” sources said.
In 40-member State Assembly, BJP has 14 MLAs (three are sick including CM), Congress has 16 and three each from MGP, GFP and Independents. NCP has one legislator.
If Congress, MGP and NCP join hands, it will turn out to be hung assembly with both the sides having 20 legislators each.
