9hile parties are springing up like mushrooms in the monsoons, in Goa, with a churning quite unprecedented in Goa’s recent political history, there can be two tangible culprits. Firstly it could be the Congress which has failed to strengthen itself as the go to opposition to take over power. For this, the Congress has been castigated and hung to dry. But this blame must also lie on all forces which have either by accident or design, paved the way for the BJP to get a serious chance at power.
These forces are individuals and parties and they should be called out for the people of Goa to make their choices. While it is no secret that the rise of the Aam Admi party, has worked to the advantage of the BJP and to the detriment of the Congress, the lost ground has been covered by some unbelievable forces. Meanwhile each of the not be seen or heard parties — the NCP, GVP and the UGDP — have become players in the news. They will play no significant part in taking Goa ahead and controlling the narrative for a better Goa which delivers promises to its people. But they have come into the fray to be either spoilers or deal makers. Make no mistake, the UGDP wants some political resurrection. And hence its functioning head Adv Anacleto Viegas is fine with Mickky Pacheco joining the party because his possible election victory will give UGDP some benefits. While Pacheco is singing the anti BJP tune, can this be cast in stone as far as he is concerned?
The NCP on the other hand, is an election season party. It is well known in political circles how tickets were distributed in the last assembly elections. This time too, the NCP will become the parking lot of those who do not get Congress tickets and yet want to contest, or simply for those who want a party symbol to boost electoral aspirations. The joining of Churchill Alemao has given it an additional sheen. On paper it is an anti-BJP party in Goa but in both Maharashtra and in Meghalaya, it bats with the BJP.
Meanwhile the Mickky Pacheco less Goa Vikas Party, may well be in the fray with other candidates for the “vikas” of the BJP in Salcete. It is seriously thinking of contesting Nuvem, Cortalim and Benaulim and perhaps one more seat and play the same role that the two GVP candidates and MLAs did in 2012.
And then finally look at the roles three Congress MLAs and one former Congress but current MLA is all set to play. Pandurang Madkaikar has quickly moved from almost joining the MGP to almost contesting on a BJP ticket from Cumbarjua while Babu Kavlekar, though he has denied this officially, is very close to freezing his decision to contest the next elections on a BJP ticket from Quepem. And both stand a chance to win. Meanwhile Vishwajit Rane is almost on the verge of jumping ship without quite making it look that way with his Satarri Yuva Manch under whose tutelage two seats will be contested. In fact Senior Rane, in a meeting of senior Congress leaders of Goa with AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi recently, lamented how the BJP was “harassing and putting pressure” on his son. If Madkaikar, Kavlekar and Vishwajeet Rane account for a total of four seats, with Babush Monserrate ever ready to give an ruling dispensation a hand, if he is getting more than an arm and leg, the BJP will be home and dry.
Does it matter if this will be mockery of the people’s real mandate? What matters is who has the numbers. And here the BJP is playing exactly the game the Congress once played in Goa. But it’s important to identify the forces who are helping the BJP. And that has been done.
