BJP says it is ready to contest 37 of 40 seats in Goa

Panaji: BJP on Sunday said it was ready to contest 37 out of 40 Assembly constituencies in Goa on its own in the elections this year.

"We have held Vijay Sankalp rallies in 35 constituencies. At present we are ready to contest 37 constituencies on our own without any kind of alliance," its state general secretary Sadanand Tanawade said here.

The ruling party is currently selecting candidates.

Reacting to media reports about Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) aligning with the rebel RSS leader Subhash Velingkar's Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM), Tanawade said MGP was yet to withdraw its support to the BJP-led Goa government.

"We have learnt about their alliance with GSM through media. They are yet to formally inform us about their pre-poll tie-up," Tanawade said.

MGP leaders last month criticised the Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar openly, which led to sacking of two MGP ministers from the cabinet and souring of relations between the alliance partners.

"We have not snapped alliance with MGP. It is they who are talking with other parties," Tanawade said.

MGP was trying to dictate terms to BJP over the leadership issue, which was unfair, he said.

"As we have 21 legislators, it is upto us to choose our leader. Party's (BJP's) central leadership and MLAs chose Parsekar as the leader. MGP should not have any say in that. In an alliance, it is not done that a partner will choose the leader for the main party," Tanawade said.