SIGNS OF discontent have emerged within the BJP-Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) alliance in Goa, fuelling murmurs of a rift and intensifying speculation that the former may go solo in the 2027 Assembly elections. The tensions surfaced when Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant asserted the BJP’s claim over North Goa’s Priol constituency earlier this week, saying those in alliance “must accept this” or “should break away”. Speaking at a meeting of party workers in Priol on Sunday, Sawant, without naming anyone, said, “I am making it clear that in the upcoming elections, Priol will remain with the BJP. We will not compromise even a little on this. If anyone has issues, then they should break away.” The veiled message to the MGP came a fortnight after Sawant said "the lotus will bloom” in Mandrem — a seat currently held by MGP — in 2027. Sawant later clarified that he was not against the alliance with the MGP, adding that any such decision rested with the BJP top brass. The MGP’s response to Sawant’s remark was initially cautious. On Sunday, Goa Power Minister and senior MGP leader Ramkrishna 'Sudin' Dhavalikar attempted to dismiss chatter about the rift. “I have no idea what exactly has happened, but I will believe any change in alliance only if the Prime Minister, Home Minister or Fadnavis (Maharashtra CM) personally inform me of any decision. The CM (Sawant) may have made this statement just to motivate BJP workers,” Sudin said. On Tuesday, however, the rumours swirled again after Sudin and his brother Deepak Dhavalikar, who is currently the MGP president, met BJP national general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh in Delhi. Deepak confirmed that the meeting was on the “future of the alliance” following Sawant’s remarks. “They (the BJP) already have a two-time elected MLA (in Priol). So, what is the use of making claims now? That will be seen at the time of (the 2027) elections… We have been assured by BJP leaders that our alliance will continue and we will fight together. He (Santhosh) said ‘we will take care of everything’. A constituency-wise survey will be conducted before deciding seat-sharing for the polls,” Deepak told The Indian Express. On Wednesday, Sudin told the media that “the message has been given to the (BJP) high command” and that it has “been passed on to the CM (Sawant)”. “Everything is good. No more discussion (is required),” Sudin added. BJP Goa president Damu Naik also dismissed speculation about differences with the MGP. After a meeting of the Goa BJP’s core committee on Tuesday, Naik said: “Everyone should meet our national leaders. There is no communication gap and no differences. We are all working together. All is well in the alliance.” MGP's history The MGP is Goa’s oldest regional party and draws its support from OBC groups. It had a pre-poll alliance with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the 2022 Assembly elections. While the MGP won two seats — Marcaim and Mandrem — the TMC drew a blank. The alliance ended up being short-lived as the MGP pledged support to the BJP soon after the results. Sudin who had become the Marcaim MLA was inducted into the Sawant-led Cabinet. In the 2022 Assembly elections, the BJP’s Govind Gaude won from Priol, defeating Deepak — who was the MGP President then — in a close contest. Five years earlier, Gaude won the seat again against Deepak, as an Independent. Deepak, who won the seat in the 2007 and 2012 polls, has been vocal about contesting from the seat in 2027. In Mandrem constituency, the MGP’s Jit Arolkar won in 2022, defeating the BJP’s Dayanand Sopte in another close contest. Gaude, who is now Goa's Arts and Culture minister and has been sparring with the Dhavalikar brothers, said the BJP does not need an alliance in Goa since it is capable of securing a majority on its own. He added that CM Sawant's statements on Priol have "cleared confusion" on the Priol seat. In at least six constituencies – Ponda, Mandrem, Marcaim, Shiroda, Pernem and Priol – the MGP has a strong voter base. The seat-sharing arithmetic in these seats will be crucial to decide the future of the alliance ahead of the 2027 polls. This will be all the more crucial as the previous polls were a tight affair. The BJP had won 20 seats on its own. The Congress had 11 seats, while its partner Goa Forward Party won one seat. Regional outfit Revolutionary Goans won a single seat. Apart from the MGP's two seats, three seats were won by Independent candidates.
