The last ten days have seen a sudden spurt of political excitement, if not political activity. Some behind the scenes and not so behind the scenes sparring between the allies and the clear difference of opinion of the issue of installing Dr Jack de Sequeira’s statue in the Assembly and the manner in which the taxi strike was dealt with, dominated developments.
But for those who felt that these were the first signs of dissent within the alliance, post Sardesai’s pot-shots at the BJP in his Lohia maidan rally and then his statements later, or the rise of the rebellious within the BJP – like Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, the reality of practical politics have a stronger foundation, than the emotional political need of those addressing constituencies. Broadly speaking and this applies to any political conflict in any state, it is only when the political reality dictates that a political turmoil is inevitable that the emotional card will be played as a political weapon. Till then the effort goes in keeping the core constituency interested. Sardesai knows that the Opinion Poll victory and the role of Dr Jack de Sequeira is important to the core constituency of Salcete, where he is surrounded by Congress MLAs. It is only an emotional link, like that of the Opinion poll, which can lead to a people’s connect, as the turnout at his party’s rally at Lohia Maidan showed. The battle to claim the Goenkarponn and identity space can have no better handle than the opinion poll.
This upping the ante on the Opinion Poll and the demand for the installation of Dr Jack de Sequeira’s statue was countered by the BJP. It was clear that the organisation of the party wouldn’t allow a Goa Forward pushed and dictated agenda, even if it made sense to a large number of Goans, to actually bear fruit. The strategy adopted to stall this has the mark of a vintage BJP counter operation. A party meeting was held where it was resolved that no more statues would be erected in the Goa Assembly.
This was taken despite a few BJP MLAs, mainly the minority ones, supported the move to install, in the Assembly, the statue of the father of the Opinion Poll. Calangute MLA Michael Lobo was very vocal and walked off stating that he, also the Deputy Speaker, would move a private members resolution in the Assembly for the installation of the statue, which the Goa Forward promptly announced that it would back.
However the belligerence of Sardesai on the issue appeared toned down later. It’s clear that this isn’t an issue that one alliance partner would push to create a political crisis. It is also clear that Lobo too is pushing this to address his own minority significant Calangute constituency as well has his influence over parts of Saligao and Siolim.
Similarly on the issue of the agitation of the taxi lobby over speed governors, Vijai Sardesai and Michael Lobo reached the Azad Maidan to “show solidarity” with the lobby, because this lobby wields political control both in the northern and southern coastal belts. But here Sardesai, after being booed by the striking taxi lobby agitators, backtracked and is actually not too pleased at the manner in which the taxi lobby was pacified with an extension granted for installing speed governors in their vehicles. Meanwhile, Michael Lobo, here has actually taken a stand which many in his party do not quite appreciate, including Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral, who it is learnt was peeved enough to even contemplate quitting the GTDC Chairman’s position. Cabral reportedly feels tourism stakeholders are at their wits end dealing with the demands of the taxi operators, and the manner in which they have been dealing with tourists, seriously threatening Goa’s long term tourism prospects for good.
In all these cases, the greater common need of carrying on and not stalling governance has prevailed over the political needs of individuals or parties.
For each of them, the political ride ahead cannot merely be on emotional pitches, though emotional pitches are the tipping point in an election. However at this stage, the foundation of bread and butter issues of jobs, infrastructure and local development needs to be laid before the powerful jam of emotion can act as the icing on the cake.
