PANJIM: Together, the Bhandaris and Catholics constitute almost 55% of Goan voters which will certainly influence the outcome of the election significantly.
AAP’s announcement of a Bhandari CM face and a Catholic Deputy CM is likely to pump up its vote share in 30-plus constituencies. This move has stumped the BJP and the Congress as they are at a loss for a response to this strategic masterstroke. It is going to impact this election and the future of Goa in a big way.
The Bhandari community which constitutes more than 30% of the population has good reason to feel aggrieved. Since 1961, barring a 2-year period, there has never been a CM from their community. Addressing their sense of historic under-representation in the political arena can potentially get the entire Bhandari community’s support firmly behind AAP.
In Amit Palekar AAP has a CM candidate who checks all the boxes – he is from the Bhandari community, is a fresh face in politics and has shown time and again that his heart beats for Goa.
The real problem for the ruling BJP is while it may have won the just-concluded elections in Zilla Parishad and Municipality, it has kept the Bhandari’s away from power. The BJP has very few Bhandari MLAs and ministers. The Chief Minister and the BJP State president, too, are non-Bhandari.
Among the Catholics who traditionally vote with the Congress, there is a very strong sense of disappointment with MLAs from their community.
There have been numerous examples of elected Congress candidates from constituencies such as Velim, Taleigao and Canacona among many others who have defected to the BJP.
This mercenary approach has left a bad taste in the Catholic community and they have become increasingly distanced from the Congress. By promising a Catholic Deputy CM, AAP has given the community a strong reason to get behind it in the polls.
