Panaji (Goa): MGP leader today held a special press conference to clarify that the party is not merging with anyone. The party leaders accused one of a Marathi newspaper which had carried headlines of the merger as being involved in paid news.
MGP held an emergency meeting of its top leaders after few media reports speculated that the Goa’s oldest regional party will be merging in BJP.
“The news about MGP’s merger into any party is false. There is no such proposal. The General Body of the party would be meeting on December 17 to extend the tenure of existing State Executive for another two years,” MGP President Dipak Dhavalikar told reporters today in presence of State Transport Minister Sudin Dhavalikar and other party officers.
Party president Dhavalikar said that the party is the oldest regional political front and has been consistently having its representation in the State Legislative Assembly since 1963, when the first election took place.
“Ours is a party which is deeply rooted in the state’s politics and society. At no time, we will ever think of merging it,” he said adding that the news is being circulated to create unnecessary panic amongst the workers.
“I assure to the workers that the party will remain intact and will keep on growing,” he said. Dhavalikar recalled that the party had polled 12-13 per cent votes during 2017 Goa Legislative assembly election.
MGP had contested the Goa Assembly polls in alliance with Shiv Sena and Goa’s former RSS chief Subhash Velingkar mentored Goa Suraksha Manch. Dhavalikar said that the party will continue contesting all the upcoming elections.
Party’s senior leader and minister in Manohar Parrikar led cabinet, Sudin Dhavalikar revealed that the Congress party had offered him to merge MGP into them in the year 2005, which he had refused to do so.
Referring to the news item in a Marathi newspaper, Dhavalikar said that it was absolutely wrong and looks like a paid news.
Similar offer had come during 2017 election which we had struck down, Dhavalikar said. He added that the party will is spreading its prowess across the State.
