Goa CM justifies sacking MGP ministers

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today said he dropped two MGP ministers from his Cabinet to prevent the BJP cadres from getting demoralised by their outbursts in the poll-bound state, even as the ally chose to continue support to the government, citing "coalition dharma".
Parsekar last night sacked Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party's Sudin Dhavalikar and Dipak Dhavalikar from his Cabinet following their outburst against the BJP-led government, raising prospects of new equations emerging in state where elections are due next year.
"Dhavalikar brothers were sending wrong signals. They were continuously busy making allegations against us. My party cadres across the state were getting demoralised. I can tolerate anything but can't allow the party cadre to get demoralised," Parsekar told reporters.

"The party cadres are our asset. Due to this I had to take the decision. It is the prerogative of the chief minister but still I took into confidence the entire BJP team, including the higher-ups," he said.
Parsekar had held close-door meeting with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and state Forest Minister Rajendra Arlekar at his bungalow before dropping the Dhavalikar brothers from the Cabinet.
"The consultation with the BJP party leaders was going on till midnight yesterday when I wrote to the Governor recommending removal of both the ministers," the CM said.

Parsekar said he has high regard for MGP as one of the oldest political outfits in the state but it was being led by "wrong" people.

"I have high regard for MGP. Since my childhood I have witnessed the developments in the MGP, that is the party which took along common man with it," he said.
"But right now it is in the wrong hands. When we decided to give them ministerial posts, out of three MLAs, one Cabinet berth should have gone to their (third) legislator Lavu Mamlatdar, but both the brothers took the slots," Parsekar said.
"Even one of them (Dipak Dhavalikar) became MGP president. If that is the case what are other workers for? I am upset over how they are handling MGP. It is no more the party formed by Goa's first Chief Minister Dayanand Bandodkar. They have even changed their ideologies," he said.

"I want that a proper person should take over the party. This party is as much close to me as my BJP. They should change the leadership. I can only suggest it, finally it is their decision. I have a soft corner for the party," Parsekar said.