Goa: Ready for pre-poll talks with MGP, GFP, says BJP

PANAJI: A day after Union home minister Amit Shah exuded confidence that his party will form the next government in Goa on its own and nearly two years after chief minister Pramod Sawant unceremoniously dumped MGP and GFP from his government, BJP on Saturday made overtures to its former allies and invited them for pre-poll alliance talks.


“We are open for discussion on pre-poll alliances with like-minded parties, because we want to maintain the essence of democracy, cultural and religious harmony, among other things,” BJP state president Sadanand Shet Tanavade said.

If any of the political parties want to protect Goemkarponn, they can come to us for discussion,” he added.

He said the preliminary discussion over alliance will take place “at our level”, while the final call on a pre-poll alliance will be taken by the parliamentary board.

“Today, some elements are luring people with various benefits and there is chaos. If we want to protect Goemkarponn from this chaos, we have to come together. We want to have clean politics in Goa,” he said.

In a direct hit at Trinamool Congress, without taking its name, Tanavade said: “There is posterbaazi going on in the state. To get the best understanding of democracy, one should visit West Bengal.”

Tanavade said various parties are trying to take politics to a different level, and to tackle this, regional parties (MGP and GFP) have to unite with BJP.

GFP general secretary (organisation) Durgadas Kamat said they were very clear that they want to ensure that a non-BJP government comes into office in 2022.

“Our president Vijai Sardesai will take the lead to facilitate a political alternative to BJP. That will put to rest doubts prevailing among the public that opposition MLAs tend to split or are bought over by the ruling party, postpolls,” he said.

TOI on Friday reported that MGP had firmly said they would not ally with BJP. GFP has already apologised to the people of the state for its postpoll alliance with BJP.

On Wednesday, BJP’s Goa election in-charge Devendra Fadnavis said the party has “not closed its doors to anyone” regarding alliances. “We are not a party with closed doors,” Fadnavis had said.