We will contest next election on our own unless Parrikar steps down as Goa CM

MGP warns coalition partner BJP

Vartha Bharati | 17-11-2018 | 19:02:00 IST

Panaji, Nov 17: The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), a BJP ally in Goa, gave an ultimatum on Saturday that the charge of the chief minister's post be given to its minister Sudin Dhavalikar in view of Manohar Parrikar's illness.

The MGP warned that it would contest the Lok Sabha polls and Assembly by-elections in the state against the BJP candidates if the demand was not met.

Parrikar, who is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, is recuperating at his residence since October 14 after being discharged from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.

Two Assembly seats -- Mandrem and Shiroda -- fell vacant last month after respective MLAs, Dayanand Sopte and Subhash Shirodkar, resigned as legislators and quit the Congress to join the BJP.

"Party's central committee had a detailed discussion on the leadership issue today. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is ailing and, because of that, the administration is completely paralysed for the last eight months," MGP president Deepak Dhavalikar said.

"Therefore, to bring in discipline and efficiency to the administration, we demand that the chief minister's charge be given to senior MGP MLA Sudin Dhavalikar as early as possible," he said.

"If the charge is not given immediately, we will contest all upcoming elections, that is (Assembly) by-election and Lok Sabha polls, by fielding our candidates against official candidate of the government," he said.

Sundin Dhavalikar is presently the second-most senior minister in Goa cabinet after Parrikar.

MGP's central committee will meet again next month to review the situation, Deepak Dhavalikar said.

"We will see if the government has taken our warning seriously or has continued with the same situation," he said, adding that he himself might contest the by-election from Shiroda, while the party would support Independent MLA Jit Arolkar in Mandrem.

MGP is part of the BJP-led coalition, which also includes Goa Forward Party and three Independents.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.

Eid al-Fitr celebrated with great joy, devotion in Dakshina Kannada

20-03-2026 ¦ 20-03-2026 IST

Mangaluru: Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, was celebrated by Muslims in Dakshina Kannada on Friday with great joy and fervor.

They gathered in large numbers and offered Namaz with devotion in mosques, where Eid Khutba and spiritual discourse were organized, after which, they shared wishes with hand shakes and hugs.

Later, they visited the graves of deceased family members and prayed for the departed souls.

The Muslims, from children to elderly citizens, dressed themselves in new clothes, applied 'attar' and had special food and sweets prepared for Eid.

They also visited their relatives', friends' and neighbors' houses and wished them for the festival.

At the Eidgah Juma Masjid on Lighthouse Hill in Mangaluru, DK District Qazi Alhaj Twaka Ahmed Musliyar recited the Khutba.

The Eid Namaz was held under the leadership of Khatib Syed Shamsuddin Basit Ba Alavi Tanl Al Ansari of Zeenat Bakhsh Kendra Juma Masjid, Bandar.

President of the Zeenat Bakhsh Kendra Juma Masjid and Eidgah Juma Masjid, Alhaj Yenepoya Abdullah Kunhi, Vice President K Ashraf, Treasurer SM Rashid Haji and others participated.

Assembly Speaker UT Khader, MLC Ivan D'Souza, City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy and other officials paid a cordial visit and wished them on the occasion.

Eid Namaz and Khutba were offered at the Ullal Kendra Juma Masjid under the leadership of Khatib Hafil Abdul Majeed Falili Hikami Sakhafi, with Ullal Dargah President BJ Hanif Haji and others participating in the celebration.