Crucial talks over seat sharing for 2017 Goa Assembly election between the BJP and its ally Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) will begin this month.
"Talks for alliance will begin at local level. Only if required we will seek the help of the central leadership," BJP BJP unit president Vinay Tendulkar told PTI today.
MGP, which had a pre-poll alliance with the BJP in the 2012 polls, have shown interest to continue with the partnership in the forthcoming elections.
Tendulkar said the first leg of talks will begin this month when Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will be in the state on September 17.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar will also be a part of the meeting.
MGP has already announced that it will bargain for 14 out of 40 seats with the BJP, whom they find as "natural partner" in the state politics.
Tendulkar said the final decision will be taken later but the initial talks will start this month.
According to sources in the BJP, Union Shipping minister Nitin Gadkari, who is in-charge of Goa for elections, will be on a two-day visit of the state from September 21.
Tendulkar, however, said they were yet to receive any formal confirmation about it.
Two out of three legislators of MGP currently have cabinet berths in the Parsekar-led government.
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