PANAJI: Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are close to finalizing a pre-poll pact for the forthcoming assembly elections. MGP is likely to contest six seats for assembly poll.

BJP leaders held an extensive meeting on Tuesday to finalize the candidates and alliance for the March 3 assembly election.

Sources in MGP and BJP have said that "MGP will be allotted Porvorim, Quepem, Ponda, Priol, Sanvordem and Marcaim". Sources in MGP said that Rohan Khaunte may be nominated on MGP ticket from Porvorim, chief minister Digambar Kamat's personal secretary Prakash Velip from Quepem, Savordem independent MLA Anil Salgaocar's son Arjun Salgaocar, Lavu Mamladar from Ponda and both present MLA Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavlikar and Pandurang (Deepak) Dhavlikar from Marcaim and Priol respectively.

When TOI contacted, BJP state president Laximikant Parsekar said "We are hopeful of alliance". Other leaders of BJP were tight-lipped saying "nothing is finalized yet".

Sources said because of the seat sharing a few BJP leaders are upset. They wanted to know why Porvorim, Quepem and Savordem constituencies were allotted to MGP when BJP has stronghold in these constituencies. Sources in the BJP said that one of the contentious seats is Ponda where the BJP has Sunil Desai who headed the anti-NH4A road widening agitation. In 2007, BJP had fielded Sandip Khandeparkar.