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Khalap splits MGP

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party has split, giving birth to MGP-K

Former Union minister Ramakant Khalap is the man behind the move. He says that his party would officially join the Congress on the Independence Day. Thereafter, he would file his nomination for the Lok Sabha election, scheduled on September 5, from North Goa.

Accompanying him to the splinter group is Prakash Velip, senior MGP party MLA, who is tipped to be a minister in Goa Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro's Congress government. Khalap's other prominent follower is Dharma Chodankar, who was the MGP's general secretary.

Khalap had wanted to merge the MGP with the Congress, but was stiffly opposed.

"I will work hard to retain the identity of my party and revive it from the grassroot level," MGP president Professor Surendra Sirsat declared.

"Congress is like a leech that always sucks blood of other parties," Sirsat said condemning Khalap's action.

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