AMN / PANAJI
Goa Deputy chief minister and Maharasthrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLA Sudin Dhavlikar was dropped from the council of ministers under chief minister Pramod Sawant today.
MGP is a coalition partner of the BJP-led state government, which has the support of 20 MLAs, including three each from MGP and Goa Forward Party and three independents. The development follows the two-third merger of MGP’s legislative wing with the BJP.
Earlier on Wednesday, two of the three MGP MLAs merged their party’s legislative wing with the BJP. Manohar Ajgaonkar and Dipak Pauskar led the move, while Mr Sudin Dhavalikar, who is the third MGP MLA in the house, did not sign the communication submitted to acting speaker of the assembly Michael Lobo.
MGP’s two-third merger has increased BJP’s strength from 12 to 14 legislators in the 40-member Goa assembly, equalling the Congress, which is no longer the single largest party. Currently, four assembly seats are vacant. MGP’s central committee would meet later today to discuss the scenario.