Panji: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday exuded confidence that the saffron party will retain government in Goa.
While speaking to reporters a day before counting of votes, Fadnavis also said that ideologically it is natural for Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and BJP to come together.
"BJP will form government. We will take several people along with us despite the majority mark. Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) is an independent party. I think ideologically it's natural for MGP and BJP to come together," Fadnavis said.
MGP is currently contesting Goa Assembly Elections in alliance with Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Elections to the 40-member Goa Assembly were held on February 14 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10 (Wednesday).
Fadnavis' outreach came after several Exit Polls rolled out on March 7 revealed that marginal players, including MGP and TMC, in the coastal state of Goa may emerge as kingmakers in case of a hung assembly.
Trinamool leaders are not sure about which way the MGP will move as the party has been more inclined towards BJP, sources told news agency IANS.
ABP News-CVoter Exit Poll predicted that Goa is likely to witness a hung Assembly with ruling BJP and Congress going neck-and-neck. The survey predicted that BJP is likely to win somewhere between 13-17 seats, while Congress may secure 12-16 seats.
The TMC-MGP alliance may get 5-9 seats and other parties, including Independent candidates, can secure 0-2 seats.
Plan B In Case Of Hung Assembly In Goa
Both BJP and Congress have started working on its 'plan B to cross the halfway mark in the Goa state assembly.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant met PM Modi and then went to Mumbai to meet BJP election in-charge for Goa, Devendra Fadnavis and party state in-charge C.T. Ravi.
Congress, on the other hand, said it is ready to form a post-poll alliance with MGP, TMC and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).