Team Herald
PANJIM: The recent statement by Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas comparing the present Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to Goa’s first Chief Minister late Dayanand ‘Bhausaheb’ Bandodkar has resulted in internal strife within the already crippled Opposition.
During a public function held at Colva last week, Viegas went on a praising spree of Sawant and equated him to the legendary leader late Bandodkar. The MLA went to the extent of saying that just as Bandodkar had carried out construction of government primary schools in Salcete taluka after the Opinion Poll, so too Sawant was carrying out development works in constituencies represented by Opposition MLAs.
Goaded by the success in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Opposition parties under the banner of India Bloc were gearing to provide a compelling alternative to the BJP. But Venzy’s statement has now resulted in internal strife within the already crippled Opposition members.
O Heraldo spoke to politicians and pundits to know if the Opposition parties would overcome internal differences and rise to the challenge to fight the dominant BJP.
Brushing aside the ongoing strife between the Opposition members, Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao said that he will speak to all Opposition members for better floor coordination during the upcoming Assembly session.
“One thing is certain. If we stand divided, the BJP will get advantage. As Opposition Leader my duty is that we fight the government unitedly and I am confident that we will fight against this government irrespective of our differences,” he said.
According to Yuri, whatever Benaulim MLA had stated was in his personal capacity.
However, Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas has reiterated that he is with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and will continue serving the people of his constituency.
“Let us come together and focus on building the brand Goa. I do not want to create divisions within the Opposition. If I have said something wrong please tell me in the right manner. I am not a criminal. Let us forget and move ahead. Only if we are united, we can corner this government, and we still have the strength to unite and come together and expose them for their failures,” Viegas said.
Former State Election Commissioner (SEC) Prabhakar Timble said, “Too much should not be read into the utterances of the Benaulim MLA. Today, people are very selfish and expect the MLA to initiate and complete public projects in their constituencies. The position of every opposition MLA is not a bed of roses and each has to strike the golden mean. If they don’t do it, the voters will reject them as non-performers at the next election. So, they know best what to speak, why to speak and when to speak. I don’t think that Venzy Viegas is in any way going to go slow on his tirade against the government in the Assembly because if he does that, his electorate will snub him later. So, what Venzy Viegas spoke about CM Pramod Sawant and Bhausaheb Bandodkar is for the specific moment and the specific occasion and could be with some constituency issues in mind.”
According to Timble, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai did what is generally expected from him as he is known to grab every opportunity coming his way to consolidate his public image as the most vociferous opposition MLA. He could have avoided having a dig at his colleague in the opposition. But, Vijai probably is in the race to prove he is first amongst all other Opposition MLAs. All know that his public posturing is always to demonstrate that he is the people’s favourite as the leader of the opposition. So, Vijai is expected to play his political games.
“On the whole, I feel the Opposition MLAs are putting up a front that they are united. I would describe them as “united Opposition” on the floor of the assembly but one does not see them together otherwise as individuals. The competition between them to be the first among equals sometimes turns unhealthy,” Timble said.
Political analyst Trajano D’Mello said, “The question is when there are so many issues of corruption plaguing the State and when the Opposition members were supposed to fight unitedly they have indulged in mud-slinging. This Opposition is not in a position to create confidence in the people that they are really one and interested in fighting against the ruling BJP. Their heart, mind and soul are not together and everyone has its own agenda not only within the parties but also within MLAs within parties.”
He said, “Rumours that the India Bloc fought together and managed to retain the South Goa Parliamentary seat is not politically correct because this seat was won due to consolidation of Salcete taluka votes in favour of India Bloc candidate. Earlier, eight Congress MLAs deserted the party and joined BJP. So how can people trust the Opposition?”
Trajano stated that Opposition parties have to declare their seats which they are going to fight as of today so that they can work in those constituencies to defeat the BJP. The drama by Opposition members in the Assembly is not convincing to the people who have seen how the Opposition members are addressing media briefings in different groups after coming out of the Assembly hall.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) vice president Prof Ramarao Wagh claimed, “Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas’s statement was misinterpreted by the media. Now things are under control and these things will be sorted out. We fought Lok Sabha elections together i.e. under India Bloc because parameters for Assembly and Lok Sabha polls are different. Also every political party has its strengths and weaknesses. Dividing and uniting is a better option and when elections are around, all are on one page.”
Wagh said, “During the Assembly session all Opposition members will put up a united front against the government. On main issues the opposition will work together.”