Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, is beginning to sound like a rebel with a cause. His run-ins with the government to the point of slightly embarrassing it, even on the issue of compromising with taxi drivers, are increasing. And to cap it all, he has now intended to move a private members resolution in favour of installing the statue of the Father of the Opinion Poll Dr Jack de Sequeira in the Assembly complex, contrary to the party’s official stand of not having any more statues.
In normal circumstances this wouldn’t have seemed to be out of order for the party, but it comes on the back of two developments.
The party very interestingly met and passed a resolution against installing another statue, in order to nip statue issue under the bud, as far as the BJP was concerned and felt that the issue was closed.
Secondly if Lobo indeed moves a private member’s resolution in support of Dr Jack de Sequeira’s statue, he will join the Congress and the Goa Forward stand on the issue. Some senior organisation members feel that in terms of sheer optics, this doesn’t look good.
So how does the party deal with Michael Lobo? At this moment, it has decided not to react sharply but allow things to unfold. A lot depends on the Speaker and whether he allows the resolutions to be tabled and put to vote. With a good fortnight left for the session, it is likely that Lobo will be informally spoken to at this stage, leaving the formalities of asking for an explanation for a later stage if required.
Meanwhile the party believes that the ‘support’ Michael Lobo has got from the minority MLAs on the statue issue is limited to opinions expressed, with none the Catholic MLAs expected to join and support Lobo’s resolution on the floor of the House.
Unfortunately opinions for and against the installation of Dr Jack de Sequeira’s statue have got divided along religious lines. But it must also be seen that those minority MLAs who may have expressed a desire to have Dr Sequeira’s statue, merely articulated an opinion but then fell in with the party line of not having any more statue.
Purely for arguments sake, if the basis is that minority MLAs will back Lobo in supporting the statue issue because of their constituents, this basis is flawed.
It must also be kept in mind that barring Michael Lobo and Nilesh Cabral, none of the other minority MLAs won on a BJP ticket due to the minority vote. A perfect example is that of Alina Saldanha who got less votes than her nephew, the AAP candidate, in Cansaulim the backyard of her husband Matanhy Saldanha, and won the seat because of sweeping the migrant and hindu dominated Sancoale segment. Then, Carlos Almeida, at no point of time can claim that he won the Vasco seat due to minority votes and nor did Glen Ticlo or even Francis D’Souza win Aldona and Mapusa respectively, on the minority votes. In fact booth wise results have actually shown a dip in votes in minority dominated booths for most of the minority BJP MLAs.
Michael Lobo’s case is entirely different. In a constituency where the 50% of the voters belong to the minority, Lobo managed to carry the majority of the minority votes as well as other votes. Moreover, after Panjim, it is Calangute which has a deep emotional connect with Dr Jack de Sequeira and also has its statue in the main intersection of the village.
Therefore notwithstanding that there is absolutely no political turmoil remotely expected, the BJP’s approach has been prudent. Any confrontation is ruled out since ally Goa Forward is also backing the resolution and the party wouldn’t like to be seen in a collision course with its ally or its own MLA who is also a very popularly elected one.
What is expected will be carefully thought out one step at a time strategy devoid of any drama and over-reaction. Michael Lobo needs handling with kid gloves and that’s what he will get.
