Why did the BJP Lok Sabha candidates not do well in the New Conquest constituencies? Which are these constituencies and was it a wrong expectation from its voters? Was it wrong to believe that just because BJP had more MLAs in the South due to inorganic growth, it would win? Or was the one-to-one fight in South Goa, unfortunate for the BJP?
Speaking on Herald TV debate on June 4, 2024, Dr Manoj Kamat, Political Analyst said, “BJP never expected such kind of a voting pattern, especially in constituencies of Ponda, Shiroda, Sanvordem and Sanguem. They thought these constituencies could give them a higher margin. This did not happen.”
Why did the BJP voter not make this happen? It was because there was a palpably wrong expectation that this would happen, Dr Kamat added.
“BJP’s victory was a political aberration and it was due to split in votes. It is wrong to believe that because you have more number of MLAs in the South, which is because of inorganic growth (defections) that can give you victory in the South,” Dr Kamat analysed.
Though the BJP went all guns blazing and was confident of victory in the South Goa Lok Sabha seat, Dr Kamat said it was a difficult proposition. “It was a difficult game to fight when BJP has to fight one-to-one. And this time unfortunately for the BJP, the fight was one-to-one. It was also felt that the election was fought on religious lines. When you see consolidation happening and the kind of consolidation –Benaulim has given a lead of almost 14,000, Velim has given a lead of almost 13,000, Nuvem has given a lead of almost 11,000. This was enough to wipe off all the lead in the Hindu dominated areas,” Dr Kamat pointed out.
Also the one-to-one fight proved costly to the BJP in South Goa. “Had there been a third candidate, who was also a powerful candidate and also more than three candidates, probably you would have found a different scenario. For instance, the lead of 13,000 in Velim could have shrunk to 9,000 or 8,000. This could have been a winning picture. There should not be any blame game. The BJP has got good number of votes which they were otherwise expecting,” Dr Kamat concluded.
