While elections in a neighbouring state does evoke curiosity at best and increased interest in the border areas since many live in one state and work in the other, there are definite indications that the political interests in Karnataka are getting into a power play with the migrant vote.
As the dynamics of this plays out, it will be foolhardy for any political dispensation to disregard the impact of the migrant vote, which consists not just of Kannadigas but people from various parts of the country. For the very first time, the migrants as a lobby have demanded two seats for the Goa Assembly polls, with seventeen associations representing groups of migrants coming together, led informally by the Akil Goa Kannada Mahasangh.
While migrants have been a target of many politicians, especially in Margao, Dabolim, Cortalim and even Mapusa, they have significantly desired to play a direct role in these elections, rather than being a support team for individual politicians. Asking for two seats from any party which is ready to back their cause is audacious. However, with so many mushrooming parties, especially rebel outfits, this demand in not unlikely to be achieved. Access to government schemes, greater representation in local bodies and consideration at par with locals in jobs are some of their primary concerns.
Importantly, the numbers which are playing out are too big to be ignored. With 3.5 lakh migrants in Goa of which 2.5 lakh are voters, no party can ignore them. And if the two big political parties reject them, they are likely to field a couple of candidates and take support of any of the new or regional parties. The flip side of this is also crucial. If any of the regional parties supports migrant candidates, even as independents, the migrant community can give a call to their brethren in other seats to back these parties.
Earlier the Karnataka lobby has been closely interested in issues concerning migrants, especially in the Baina area of Vasco. When the demolition of unauthorised structures on Baina beach was going on, Karnataka politicians, including MLAs, came over to express solidarity. That kind of a political, and needless to add, financial support coming in, this lobby is expected to be far more vocal.
But this development is fraught with potential conflicts. This is the beginning of a larger demand for their footprint in the Goan political, social and economic space. While there is fundamentally nothing wrong in these aspirations, the conflict will begin when they compete for land and jobs, as bonafide residents of Goa. And this is going to be a challenge for any political dispensation post 2017.
Moreover, with many migrants facing issues of unauthorised constructions, encroachments, building homes on comunidade land, it is clear that political exigencies and compromises will face day to day challenges. The biggest point of conflict will be the attempt made by the perennial “outsiders” to be now accepted as “insiders”. And with many Goans with Portuguese passports finding themselves in a situation where their voting rights will be taken away, the entry of the migrants through the political system, is all set to change Goa’s demographics irrevocably.
