PANJIM: Post-Pitru Paksh (inauspicious period), political activity is set to gain momentum in poll-bound Goa.
Most of the political parties, including those who go by the ‘secular’ tag, had refrained from taking any major decisions, either on pre-poll alliances or joining of prominent leaders in view of the Pitru Paksh, which ended on Wednesday. As per age-old Hindu tradition, Pitru Paksh is considered to be an inauspicious period to take any important decision.
The latest statement by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, that all current BJP MLAs will not be re-nominated by the party to contest the ensuing Assembly elections, and the recent entry of the Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) in the State, are poised to change equations in the run-up to the polls.
There are reports that some BJP legislators may embrace TMC, who through its India-Political Action Committee (I-PAC) agency has been contacting people across villages and constituents to assess the pulse of the people.
It is learnt that I-PAC mentor Prashant Kishor is arriving in Goa on Sunday and is likely to strategise and accelerate TMC’s plans ahead of the elections.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also commenced its activity and is banking on the government’s ongoing initiative, ‘Sakar Tumchya Dari’ (Government at your doorsteps), to boost its fortunes.
The opposition Congress, which was optimistic of its prospects in the upcoming elections, suffered a jolt when its former Chief Minister and sitting MLA Luizinho Faleiro resigned from the party and joined the TMC. But Congress leaders are refusing to accept that Faleiro’s exit, ahead of the elections, would hamper the party’s prospects.
“Many prominent leaders have joined Congress and others have discussed with us and would join shortly,” a Congress leader said.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) State president Jose Philip D’Souza said he had already held discussions with All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge Dinesh Rao regarding a pre-poll alliance between the two parties. He said that he will discuss the matter with NCP general secretary Goa desk in-charge Praful Patel, who returned from his Gulf tour on Friday. “I am confident that there will be an alliance between the like-minded parties for the coming elections,” D’Souza said.
Shiv Sena, though not a political force in State politics, is also trying to get a foothold in the State. Jitesh Kamat, its Goa chief said, “We had requested our observer MP Sanjay Raut to commence our activity after the end of Pitru Paksh and soon many Shiv Sena Ministers and leaders from Maharashtra will descend Goa. We have many leaders lined up to join the party.”