In the recent past, Sattari taluka has proved to be favourable for BJP’s North Goa MP Shripad Naik’s Lok Sabha elections. In 2014, Naik secured a total of 22,340 votes as against Congress’ candidate Ravi Naik, who got 20,518 votes from the two constituencies of Poriem and Valpoi, despite being represented by two Congress MLAs, the father-son duo, Pratapsingh Rane and Vishwajit Rane respectively.
Now, in a boost to Shripad’s 2019 LS campaign, a key player, Vishwajit Rane is a BJP MLA, having quit the Congress and winning the ensuing Valpoi by-polls.
The upcoming LS polls will be a litmus paper test for Rane family- who have dominated politics in Sattari for decades now. With over 55,000 voters, the polling in Sattari’s Valpoi and Poriem Assembly constituencies will determine how much of an impact the two Ranes will have on the LS elections and also their value to their respective parties.
In the 2017 assembly election, the father-son duo got almost 55 percent of the total votes tendered.
However, with the divided political affiliations in 2019, it remains to be seen which way Sattari will vote. Political pundits point out that
during the 2017 Valpoi by-poll, senior Rane had refrained from putting in his mighty support or that of the Congress for the sake of his son. They further observe that Vishwajit had always been a star campaigner even for his father, till now.
“Majority of the people of Sattari are always with Rane family. That is going to be advantage for BJP this time as senior Rane will never go against his son,” said retired Headmaster Gurudas Samant.
The local resident felt Pratapsingh had remained neutral during by-election and will continue doing so even for Lok Sabha polls. “It is also doubtful whether senior Rane will address any public meeting in Sattari against BJP,” he added.
It maybe recalled that Pratapsingh had praised Shripad in the run- up to the by-polls, embarrasing Congress.
While the father-son duo is one of the most important factors, the mining issue will also leave its imprint on the polling in this area. The mining belt from Pissurlem to Sonshi is reeling from an economic downfall.
Goa Mining People’s Front has ignited the flame against BJP candidates and locals in are also openly speaking out against BJP. The locals feel that BJP pauperized the mining dependents, while making tall claims of all inclusive development.
“It all depends on whether BJP is able to solve the mining crisis by April 23 or not. People will decide their vote on that,” GMPF President Puti Gaonkar reacted. Gaonkar said that BJP still has an opportunity to correct its mistake. The mining belt in this area has been bereft of any employment opportunities as the agriculture has been on the vain.
“We have full faith in Rane family. But these are not the assembly elections. These are for Parliament. And none from their family is contesting. So we will have to vote for those who can assure us that mining will restart,” Sudhakar Gaonkar from Morlem, Sattari said.
He said that the people will ever be indebted to Rane family for their contributions in Sattari taluka. “We are not for any particular party. This time we will vote for the candidate who will assure us that our livelihood would be protected,” he said.
In Sattari’s voting pattern, few other significant factors like Vishwajit Krishnarao Rane, who was BJP’s poster boy in the constituency before his namesake Vishwajit Pratapsinh Rane became the leader of Saffron party, cannot be undermined.
V. K Rane holds supremacy in some parts of Sattari especially in and around Saleli and Pissurlem belts. He had contested against Pratapsinh Rane from Poriem constituency on BJP ticket for 2012 and 2017 elections. In 2017, he had managed to get nearly 10,900 votes and had lost with a mere margin of 4000 votes.
V. K Rane is upset with BJP but it’s unlikely that he would work against the party. He has maintained silence since the time his party has begun getting inundated with non-cadre leaders. When contacted, V. K Rane said that he is a loyal soldier of the party and will continue to work for the party. He said that BJP, always had a upper hand in Sattari during Parliamentary elections.
The election fever is yet to grip Sattari but all eyes are on the results, not only to gauge the mood of the voters, but also to see who- Senior or Junior Rane, holds the key for this crucial vote bank.
