MGP withdraws support to govt in Goa

PANAJI: The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), on Sunday,
withdrew support to the Congress-led coalition government, party
president, Mr Pandurang Dhavalikar said.

Mr Dhavalikar told media that his party has sent the decision of the
central committee asking its minister holding the portfolios of
transport, social welfare and river navigation to resign from the
cabinet, to the ruling alliance, Governor, Mr K Sankarnarayanan, the
Speaker, Mr Pratapsing Rane and the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat,
in a letter dated February 3, and also announced that as of today the
party was withdrawing support to the Congress.
"Today morning removed the understanding with the Congress and in the
upcoming elections we will be going for elections with the BJP. We have
conveyed to the governor, Speaker and the Chief Minister that we are not
with the government," he told media.
Mr Dhavalikar said that the main issue for these elections for the MGP
is unemployment while the other issues are MoI and illegal mining.
"Our minimum common programme would be formulated shortly," he said.
Mr Dhavalikar was the KTC chairman till he resigned recently.
Mr Ramkrisna Dhavalikar, one of the two MLAs of the MGP, once a dominant
force in the state having ruled since Liberation for 17 years, was a
minister in the present Congress-led government holding the lucrative
transport portfolio.
The MGP will contest eight seats - Thivim, Priol, Ponda, Madkai,
Dabolim, Nuvem, Benaulim and Quepem and support independent candidate,
Ms Nirmala Sawant in Cumbharjua.