BJP, MGP seal pre-poll deal, Goa

PANAJI:  Calling it a natural alliance, the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) president, Mr Nitin Gadkari on Sunday officially announced
the pre-poll tie-up between BJP and MGP for the March 3 Assembly
elections, in the presence of top local leaders from both the parties.

The announcement was made after an early morning meeting held at a city
hotel where the deal was finally sealed. Those present included the
leader of the opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar, and former transport
minister and Priol MLA, Mr Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar.
According to the terms, the BJP would contest 31 seats, the MGP 8 and
the alliance would support an independent candidate, Ms Nirmala Sawant
in Cumbarjua.
"A decision was taken to have a pre-poll alliance to fight the
elections. It is a 100 per cent natural alliance for the interest and
development of Goa. And 101 per cent, we will form the next government
in Goa with this alliance," Mr Gadkari said, arguing that the BJP-MGP
alliance will change what he called "the corrupt Congress government"
that had spoilt Goa's name all over the country and added that the
BJP-MGP alliance will give the people an "alternative."
However, the BJP chief refused to name a leader under whom they would
contest the polls. He said that the alliance would fight the elections
under the leadership of Mr Parrikar, Mr Naik and the party's state
president, as well as under the leadership of the MGP president, Mr
Pandurang (Deepak) Dhavalikar.
The central election committee of the BJP Sunday finalised a list of its
22 candidates among whom the prominent are Mr Laxmikant Parsekar
(Mandrem), Mr Manohar Parrikar (Panaji), Mr Rajendra Arlekar (Pernem),
Mr Francis D'Souza (Mapusa) and Mr Matanhy Saldanha (Cortalim). Mr
Govind Parvatkar gets the Porvorim seat after all the controversy
created by the North Goa MP, Mr Shripad Naik and his claim for that
particular seat.
Calling these elections a semi-final, Mr Gadkari said that among the
five states facing polls, the BJP is in a good position in Punjab and
Uttarakhand. In Uttar Pradesh, it would not be surprising if we get a
majority and Manipur will have a non-Congress government this time, Mr
Gadkari said. He also called for an integrated policy that was
transparent on the mining issue and called on the Centre to formulate a
proper policy, cautiously batting for industry, employment and
environment. He also said that the party had good governance and
development as its mission and social justice was what it was aiming at.
Meanwhile, the MGP Sunday withdrew support to the Congress-led coalition
government. The MGP president, Mr Pandurang (Deepak) Dhavlikar said
that the party has conveyed to the Governor, Speaker and the Chief
Minister that it is not with the government.