It’s a fraction of what they would have earned if mining wasn’t stopped but the mining doles given to truck owners have kept many families from being on the streets. Moreover, their massive earnings went towards clearing loans for trucks and equipment while many bought fixed assets. Hence liquid cash is an issue. These doles have been the tipping point for the BJP. It won the South Goa seat because the Congress lead of 27,000-odd votes in Salcete was off set by the BJP in the mining belt. Our postmortem.
GLENN COSTA
glenn@herald-goa.com
In the just concluded Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party floored the Congress in the mining belt.
The BJP secured huge leads, with even Quepem which has a Congress legislator, converting last time’s deficit into a lead in this Lok Sabha elections.
The people in these areas were quite clear as to why they voted for the BJP – misgovernance by the Congress which led to mining closure.
This showed that the Congress strategy to blame Parrikar for the closure backfired and instead the people chose to believe in the assurances of the Chief Minister that he would restart mining. The doles to both truck owners and mining workers were either perfectly timed or were coincidentally advantageous to the ruling party. Certain sections also spoke about the effect of the Modi wave and the anti-Congress wave in whispers, obliquely referring to the polarisation of votes.
On the other hand, the Congress failed to communicate its message, which was not convincing enough, people say. According to them, there was no proper Congress mobilization on the ground to counter the constant allegations of corruption reported in the media or highlighted by the BJP.
Locals also pointed out that they felt that it would help in better Centre-State relations if the same party ruled in both places.
They argued that disconnect was clearly shown in the relationship between the erstwhile UPA government at the Centre and the State and the consequence of it not being very positive on the request for a mining package.
“There was a Modi wave across the country. The voters of this area voted for BJP candidate Narendra Sawaikar as these elections were fought on a party basis,” says Quepem Councillor Amol Kanekar.
This time, Quepem gave BJP a lead of 1700-odd votes from the 1300-vote lead it had given the Congress.
But Puskal Sawant from neighbouring Curchorem differs and says “There is no Modi wave. It is just that the people wanted a change, more because of an anti-Congress wave. The corruption of the Congress was regularly reported by the media.”
Curchorem gave a lead of some 5000 votes to the BJP. People with stakes in mining such as truck or machinery owners have attributed the electoral gains to the doles given to them.
According to them, Parrikar promised to restart mining and gave them a helping hand by way of doles when they had no sustenance. They expected him to waive off the interest on loans for their vehicles, machinery and restart mining as well.
Alternatively, they blamed the Congress for the mess and for their inability to sort it out especially when the UPA was in power at the Centre. A section also accused the Congress ministers and MLAs of being direct beneficiaries of the mining boom including the then urban development minister Joaquim Alemao.
Finally, some voters were so cynical that they even said that even though they voted for the BJP, it did not make any difference as to who came to power since for them day-to-day survival is more important than the nitty-gritty of politics.
Gloating mining belt MLAs
We (BJP MLAs) have been working for the welfare of mining people. People are happy with our work and they have expressed this by giving BJP a huge margin. People know that only BJP can fulfill their demands
— Nilesh Cabral, MLA Curchorem
People are aware that BJP government is concerned about their problems and only we can solve their problems. They have full faith in BJP government that mining activities will resume soon
— Ganesh Gaonkar, MLA Sanvordem
When mining was banned by SC, govt fought with Centre and the Court to ensure that mining resumes. People are aware of that fight. By giving huge margin, people have thanked BJP government
— Subhash Phaldessai, MLA Sanguem
Though the Opposition made allegations against us, people are aware as it was Congress who was responsible for the mess. We are thankful to the people for making BJP victorious.
Pramod Sawant, MLA Sanquelim
what locals have to say
There are various reasons that led to a huge vote in favour of the BJP this time. First, the people believed the assurances given by the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar that he would restart mining coupled with the Congress central government’s reluctance to clear a package to give financial help to truck owners and workers. Secondly, Parrikar managed to communicate all this well to the people and this made a difference while Congress failed to explain its stand.
— Prasad Paras (name changed) from Sanvordem
People wanted a change. We could not go any lower than this. In the mining belt, the doles and the assurance worked as it went down well with the people. After 12 years of Congress rule in Goa and 10 years at the Centre, the economy is at its lowest point. The people are hoping for a change.
On the other hand, the Congress only tries to give doles during election time; otherwise they did nothing at all.
— Mahesh Angle, machinery owner, Margao
The people in general moved towards the BJP because of the schemes. Also there were a lot of incentives and warnings given by local MLAs. People in areas like Morpilla or Bali (in Quepem) are very poor and these schemes helped the BJP get votes as they were convinced. Another reason was that due to the Modi effect, people were confident that the BJP would win.
— Ravindra Velip, Cavrem panch
All the work Parrikar did for the people after mining closure, with the assurances and the doles helped.
–Amol Kanekar, Quepem councillor
