Cracks appear between BJP-MGP on seat-sharing for local polls

A day after sealing a seat-sharing deal for upcoming Zilla Panchayat polls in Goa, cracks have appeared between allies BJP and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) over the issue.
While BJP is willing to spare 10 out of the total 50 Zilla Panchayat seats for MGP, the regional outfit is demanding at least 12.
The pre-poll alliance between the parties, who are part of the ruling coalition in the state, was finalised in Delhi yesterday in presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, a former Goa CM.
During the talks in Delhi, it was decided that MGP will fight on 10 seats, Goa Vikas Party (GVP) five, two will go to Independents and the rest to BJP.

However, MGP President Dipak Dhavalikar today said his party is not satisfied with the seat-sharing formula and demanded that they be allocated 12 seats.
"We will be meeting BJP leaders again on Friday with our demand," he said.
MGP had demanded 19 seats during the talks in Delhi.
The local body polls, scheduled on March 18, are being contested on party lines for the first time.