Manohar Parrikar’s resignation of the Panjim seat and the consequent by-elections to the capital constituency has finally created some political excitement in a state that has seen political stability for nearly 9 years now.
In 1994, Manohar Parrikar wrested the Panjim seat in a contest against a weak Keshav Prabhu who was fielded by the Congress. It was a watershed year for the BJP in Goa, as they won 4 seats in the assembly for the first time. It was also the year that spelt the beginning of the end for MGP. The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party had fought the 1994 election as a senior alliance partner along with the BJP and Shiv Sena. Atal Behari Vajpayee, then at his fiery best – and BJP’s prime ministerial hopeful, held the audience captive outside Mahalaxmi Temple, where he addressed a huge gathering. Baban Naik, one-time MGP legislator, who was then sitting in the audience, was invited on the stage and I believe it was at that very movement that MGP ceded the seat to the BJP – which it would retain, without breaking a sweat, for two decades.
Very few people in Panjim knew who Parrikar was and where he came from, apart from his RSS friends. He had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections, two years before. But the master strategist that he is, must have sensed a political opportunity in the capital city which was then represented for two consecutive terms by a jovial and easy-going baker from Mala, Joao Baptist Gonsalves, better known as JB.
JB did precious little for the city apart from being the nice man that he was. Always had good things to say to others. And was ever smiling. I know this because I purchased a full loaf of bread, a fruit pie and 6 patties from him every afternoon then. But if JB had any grand vision for the city, was not known to his constituents. And here was an IIT engineer – Parrikar’s electoral advertisement in the 1994 elections did not make any attempt to hide his academics exploits. In fact, when asked “Parrikar who?” “IIT engineer” was the response that you would more often than not, get. Parrikar also had a plan and well spelt out manifesto for the city, hitherto an unknown or not systematically disseminated piece of vision by MLAs. I still remember the Campal / St. Inez creek cleansing advertisement released by Parrikar as an election promise – which later his political opponents chose to tickle him with for non-action.
Parrikar would then move around with his RSS and party pals – Subhash Velingkar, Lele Sir, Raju Sukekar, Datta Kholkar and others. Two young advocates – Sanjay Usgaocar and Vilas Thali, were also part of his crack team.
Two elections against Keshav Prabhu, 1994 and 1999, were virtually a walkover for him. One must also bear in mind that the chief ministerial candidate of the MGP in 1994, Ramakant Khalap had lost the elections to Sangeeta Parab in Mandrem – and barring his stint as Lok Sabha MP and later his elevation as Union Law Minister in Deve Gowda’s cabinet, the Mapusa based lawyer-banker’s political fortunes in the State were on the wane.
In 2002, Parrikar contested as a sitting Chief Minister against one-time Panjim Mayor, Ramesh Silimkhan fielded by the Congress Party, and won comfortably. In 2007 though, fighting a one-to-one battle against Congress Dinar Tarcar, his margin of victory was barely 1400 odd votes. In 2012, he wiped out Yatin Parekh – another mayor of the capital city.
So now that the man who was the face of Panjim for 20 years in the Goa Legislative Assembly and a vociferous and most heard voice in the state, has chosen to leave it all for Delhi, there is a mad scamper of hopefuls who had contained their electoral aspirations – many for years together, as they did not want to cross path with Parrikar.
The BJP has decided to field long time confidante and man Friday of Manohar Parrikar, Siddharth Kunkolienker for the capital’s seat while the principal opposition has given thumbs up to Surendra Furtado’s candidature. After blowing hot and cold regarding his political aspirations for Panjim, Babush Monserrate has withdrawn from the race, ostensibly citing reasons that two years would be a less time frame for carrying out development in the city – a fact that had skipped his calculations when he came out thumping his chest after Parrikar’s departure to Delhi. Aires Rodrigues may also enter the fray as an independent and as always, the left front will field their candidate like they always do – to make the elections look like a contest of equals.
The politics of the daily wage workers of the City Corporation should not miss the radar of any political observer. And capital will be made on the way the issue was handled either by the mayor or the chief officer, if not both.
But as I mentioned earlier, political excitement has come to the city. Let’s watch the contest closely.
(Harshvardhan Bhatkuly is a lawyer, writer and reluctant social commentator).
