MGP says it is positive about Sena's proposal of coalition

Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) leader Sudin Dhavalikar said on Friday that he was positive about a proposal mooted by the Shiv Sena to form an anti-BJP front in Goa.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut called him in the morning and spoke about formation of a new coalition, Dhavalikar told PTI.

Earlier, speaking in Mumbai, Raut said after Maharashtra, an anti-BJP front was shaping up in Goa. Goa Forward Party leader Vijai Sardesai met Raut and told reporters later that his party favoured a Maharashtra-like experiment in Goa to get rid of "anti-people" BJP government.

Dhavalikar too said that he reacted positively to the idea.

"A coalition of five parties -- Congress, MGP, Goa Forward Party, Shiv Sena and NCP -- can be formed in Goa to fight the 2022 Assembly elections," the MGP leader said.

At present such an alliance can not pose any threat to the BJP government in Goa as opposition does not have the numbers, he added.

"Alternative government cannot be formed unless the Speaker disqualifies the members who crossed over illegally to the BJP," he said.

Petitions seeking disqualification of former MGP leaders Manohar Ajgaonkar and Deepak Pawaskar and ten former Congress members is pending before the Assembly Speaker.

With entry of these 12 MLAs, the BJP in Goa now has a majority in the Assembly.

Dhavalikar said he asked Raut to come to Goa for the first round of meetings of the proposed coalition and for working out a Common Minimum Program.

"It will be good if Sanjay Raut is taking the lead in forming the coalition of five parties in Goa," he said.

Dhavalikar also said he would monitor the behaviour of some "fence-sitting leaders" in the opposition, especially in the Congress.

"I will be observing their moves for next two-three months. There are some fence-sitting leaders in Congress. If we are having a coalition, it should be at all levels," the former minister said.

He will also have to see how the new coalition government in Maharashtra functions, he said.