MGP-GVP oppose ‘coconut bill’, alliance coconut breaking?
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 13 February 2016 22:51 IST
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s coconut is breaking as its both the alliance partners - Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party as well as Goa Vikas Party – are gearing up to embarrass the government on several issues, especially the controversial ‘coconut bill’.
While GVP supremo and MLA Mickky Pacheco has openly come out against it, the MGP central committee has decided to oppose the amendment to ‘coconut bill’ it had earlier supported.
The Goa Preservation of Trees amendment bill is passed in the winter Assembly session, but yet to get assent from the Governor.
“I am not with the government, will field candidates in all 40 constituencies against the BJP”, Mickky told today at the press conference in Margao.
“We have told our legislators that the party should take a stand to reconsider the amendments”, a party office bearer said, after their central committee meeting in Panaji today.
When asked, party president and minister Dipak Dhawalikar refused to comment on it.
Highly placed sources disclosed to goanews.com that the issue of the controversial ‘coconut bill’ was vehemently opposed at the MGP central committee meeting.
MGP, GVP on MoI
While supporting BJP’s stand to continue salary grants to the Church-run English primary schools, the MGP however today decided to oppose the bill the government is planning to bring to make it a law.
“Let the grants continue, but we oppose the bill”, said the office bearer on a condition of anonymity.
Mickky, on the other hand, demanded that government grants be given to all the schools, irrespective of medium of instruction.
Both the alliance partners have also questioned why no arrest has taken place till date of those involved in the mining scam, the promise which was made by the BJP during 2012 election.
TIGHT ROPE WALK FOR BJP?
With GVP coming out openly and MGP warming up to fight its senior alliance partner, the March budget session could be a tough game for Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar.
In spite of minor differences, both the parties had supported the BJP government in the winter Assembly session on all the crucial issues as well as elections of Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
The MGP has three members while the GVP has two. The BJP however has a clear majority of 21 in the 40-member House.
In the winter session, two independent MLAs – Rohan Khaunte and Naresh Sawal – had stood up against the government, unlike in the past.
It is clear that two more GVP MLAs would be added now to the opposition, while it needs to be seen what kind of stand the MGP takes in the forthcoming session, beginning from 18 March.
While both Dhawalikar brothers are the ministers in the government, the GVP is not represented in the cabinet.
