Dhavalikar Removed from the Goa Cabinet after two MGP MLAs Merge their Party Wing with BJP

Guwahati: Two MLAs of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) of Goa today merged their party's wing with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP now has 14 legislators in the 40 member assembly in the state.

Legislators Manohar Ajgaonkar and Dipak Pawaskar gave a letter to the Goa Assembly Speaker Michael Lobo at around 1.45 am in the midnight of Tuesday to merge the MGP legislature party with the BJP.

However, MGP's third legislator, Sudin Dhavalikar has not signed the letter.

While Dhavalikar is a Deputy Chief Minister in the BJP-led state government in Goa, Ajgaonkar is a tourism minister in the state.

The two MLAs who have merged the legislative wing are saved from inviting anti-defection law which makes it mandatory that two-third of the strength should agree for the merger.

The legislators have formed a group by breaking away from the MGP on Tuesday and have merged the legislative unit with the BJP.

Meanwhile, Lobo has confirmed that he received the letter at around 1.45 am on Tuesday and that the signature of Dhavalikar was not there in the letter.

The MGP is an alliance partner of the BJP in Goa since 2012.

On the other hand, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday dropped deputy Chief Minister Sudin Dhavalikar from the state cabinet after the two MGP MLAs merged the party with BJP.

Sawant, in a communication with Goa Governor Mridula Sinha said that he has dropped Dhavalikar from the cabinet and the decision on filing up the vacant seat will be taken very soon. The CM also said that he will take over the Transport and Public Works portfolios held by Dhavalikar.

Meanwhile, Dhavalikar accused the BJP of robbing MGP at midnight.

MGP is an alliance party with the BJP in the Pramod Sawant government with all the three MLAs supporting him along with legislators from Goa Forward Party and Independents.

Also Read: NATIONAL NEWS