The BJP, whose relationship with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party had soured in the past, is now on the verge of a rout with the Sudhin Dhavlikar-led MGP since its exit polls have once more predicted a deadlock in Goa.
Just before counting the vote, BJP’s Devendra Faddnavisthe, head of the state of Goa’s coastal state, declared that his party’s MGP is the party’s “natural ally.”
However, he added that he’s “sure” that the BJP “will get a thumping majority.”
“I’m sure that BJP will get good results; people are ready to come with us, and with them, we’ll get a thumping majority,” Mr. Fadnavis was quoted by the media outlet ANI.
ALSO READ : “confident” Goa Congress wants to meet with the governor before counting votes: Sources
Atanasio “Babush” Monserrate, the controversial BJP legislator who is running for Panjim, said, “We are confident that we will form a government on our own and we will prove exit poll wrong tomorrow… I am confident that if required, MGP will support BJP. We have a relationship with them”.
The MGP – currently associated with Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress and expected to have enough seats to play the role of the kingmaker, stated that it had received feedback from the Congress too.
After assisting the BJP to become the dominant party in Goa in 2017 despite the Congress becoming the biggest party in the state, Sudhin Dhavlikar was unceremoniously dismissed off his position in the BJP cabinet at Goa in March 2019, just a few days after the demise of Goa’s former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, and the emergence of the present Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant.
However, the MGP head, who had previously pledged never to join the BJP once more, seems to be having a change of mind.
Any alliance with the BJP will require the post of Chief Minister for the MGP, Sources from the party have said. The BJP response to the coalition is not yet known.
However, an agreement with the BJP is likely not to go over well with Trinamool Congress, which was hoping to play a significant role in the government’s formation.
But Mr. Dhavalikar has also told NDTV that he’s had meetings with Trinamool chairman Abhishek Banerjee, the party’s election adviser Prashant Kishor, and the Rajya Sabha MPs of the party.
“I have discussed many things with them, the Congress and the BJP. But I am in an alliance; I will not be able to decide at this stage,” the politician added.
The exit polls predict an unrest-filled Assembly in Goa. Six exit polls revealed yesterday that 16 seats are each allocated to BJP and the Congress is lower than the majority of 21.
It is expected that the Trinamool Congress is expected to gain three seats.
