Vowing to defeat a person “who betrayed people” by switching parties overnight, Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party(MGP) president Pandurang ‘Deepak’ Dhavalikar on Thursday began campaigning for the upcoming bypoll in the Shiroda Assembly constituency in North Goa.
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Mr. Dhavalikar’s statement was aimed at Subhash Shirodkar, the Congress MLA who resigned recently to join BJP and would contest from Shiroda in the bypoll.
Mr. Dhavalikar, when contacted by The Hindu on Friday, denied that he was contesting the bypoll because of fears that two additions to the BJP legislative strength would reduce the MGP’s importance in the BJP-led alliance.
On remarks by his brother, the MGP leader and minister Ramakrishna Dhavalikar, that there was no decision on Mr. Dhavalikar’s candidacy, the MGP chief said he was confident that the party and his brother would back him.
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When specifically asked if his contesting the election was not against the coalition “dharma”, as the MGP is an ally in the BJP-led government, Mr. Dhavalikar said, “My fight is not against the government or the BJP. It is against habitual defectors, whoever they are, but need to be taught a lesson so that others will be warned,” said Mr. Dhavalikar.
When asked whether the MGP contesting the bypoll would affect its ties with the BJP, he said it would not have an impact.