In Goa, Trinamool marks a local ally who helped the BJP take matters into their own hands in 2017
Mahua Moitra said residents of Goa who were looking for an alternative to BJP “should look no further”.
The search for a local ally by the ruling Trinamool Bengal Congress in Goa ended on Monday, with a rapprochement with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak party led by Sudhin Dhavlikar which helped the BJP take power in the state in 2017, despite the fact that Congress becomes the biggest party. . Sudhin Dhavlikar was bluntly sacked from the BJP government in Goa in March 2019, shortly after two of his party’s MPs joined the BJP.
The alliance of MGP and Trinamool was announced this evening by his brother Deepak Dhavlikar. Sharing the stage with him, Mahua Moitra, who is the manager of Trinamool’s Goa, said: “This alliance is a combination of the fighting spirit of Trinamool and the deep-rooted history of MGP in Goa… we believe the locals of Goa who were looking for an alternative to get rid of the BJP government in the state should look no further. “
Trinamool had also contacted another former BJP ally and a local party, but the deal was unsuccessful due to differences over a possible merger.
Sources said the merger was engineered by veteran Goa political leader Luizinho Faleiro, who recently joined Congress from Trinamool and is the party’s national vice president.
Sources also told NDTV that the MGP will contest around 9 of Goa’s 40 seats. Trinamool also plans to contact other outfits to include more local faces.
The Goa Forward Party linked up with Congress, which accused Trinamool of trying to help the BJP in Goa.
Trinamool retaliated with the example of 2017, when Congress, despite winning more seats, allowed the BJP to form government with the support of the Goa Forward Party and the MGP.
The leader of Trinamool and Chief Minister of Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, explained the animosity of the Congress.
“If Congress disputes against me in Bengal, can’t I challenge in Goa? Why are you contesting against me at every seat in Bengal? If they can challenge, I can challenge too. I want the BJP to be kicked out. saw that they (Congress) were elected and then how the BJP formed the government in Goa. They were very elected, ”Ms. Banerjee said.
Devendra Fadnavis, head of the BJP in Goa, also arrived in the state for a two-day visit to take stock of the ruling party’s preparations for the poll as it faces massive opposition to power.