The oldest regional party in the political mix, the MGP is at the crossroads and needs to take some vital decisions which will impact not only their future but that of the political road map in 2017 and beyond. It is no secret that the MGP has been dictated by political and economic opportunism and not ideology for almost a decade now with the Dhavalikar brothers at the helm. But ironically, it is this dilemma between choosing what could be the path ahead to consolidate the party, independent of the BJP, and remaining with the ruling coalition, to get indirect benefits of central funds for Sudin Dhavalikar’s PWD, which is plaguing the MGP.
For close to a year now the MGP has been trying to consolidate its base, increase its membership and look at contesting seriously beyond Ponda and extend its reach to Quepem, parts of Salcete, Satarri and even Bardez. In an ideal situation, a senior party source had confided very recently, the MGP would look to contest even 26 seats. But that can happen only if it breaks free from the BJP completely. But the situation is far from ideal. If the MGP shows any signs of going the distance and contesting alone, the State machinery will fall on the Dhavalikar brothers, especially Sudin, like a ton of bricks. One must remember that the PWD is a hornets’ nest of irregularities and any serious investigation will rope in not just the former but even the current PWD minister. Even if the charges are, arguably, baseless, the MGP will want to avoid a hugely time consuming investigation and litigation.
What is weighing on Sudin Dhavalikar, perhaps even more than the possibility of a serious probe into the functioning of his department, is the continuance of central funds for major infrastructure projects coming from the Union Highways ministry, whose minister Nitin Gadkari, shares a special relationship with Mr Dhavalikar. Even if the MGP does break away from the BJP and is a part of a new ruling coalition post the next elections, there is a fear that a free flow of projects and funds may dry up, if the center is antagonistic.
Notwithstanding these limitations, the Dhavalikar brothers have not stopped exploring the unknown. Sudin Dhavalikar’s recent forays to spots where the Fatroda MLA and the Goa Forward creator Vijai Sardesai has been of late, and their presence together on Saturday at a youth function in Ponda which Sardesai used as a platform for his ongoing maad yatra, in support of the coconut tree, has kick-started early rumours of a new political journey. For Sardesai, even an early rumbling in this direction works perfectly, even as he waits for the fate of his own journey with the Congress. There is obviously no denying the fact that that a Goa Forward-MGP combination ticks all the right boxes cutting across religious and caste lines. Meanwhile, the MGP has a new bone to pick with the BJP over the induction of tribal leader and Prakash Velip into the BJP and a strong possibility of him contesting from Quepem, a seat the MGP will surely claim.
As the elections draw to a close, MGP, the party which is making the least noise could well be the final piece in the jigsaw puzzle and steer the direction of political strategy in the run-up to 2017. The MGP will have to make a choice between playing second fiddle to BJP for its economic opportunism or take the risk to break free into a challenging but unknown future for the sake of political opportunism. For the only leader in Goa who runs politics with the shrewdness of a businessman, Sudin Dhavalikar’s ultimate choice will indeed be interesting.
