With just a few months remaining for the forthcoming assembly polls, the political poaching and the leaders switching sides has already begun.
Former PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, who contested on Congress ticket in 2012, has already joined the Nationalist Congress Party and is billed to contest from Benaulim again.
Churchill’s first preference was to join the Congress but his alleged involvement and arrest in the Louis Berger case forced Congress to deny him entry into the party, which is trying to field candidates with a clean image in 2017.
Like Churchill, there are several others who are sitting on the fence trying to find out which way the tide is moving.
However, the major exodus seems to be only from the Congress. Cumbarjua legislator Pandurang Madkaikar, Quepem MLA Babu Kavlekar, Valpoi MLA Vishwajit Rane, independent MLA Naresh Sawal and Porvorim’s independent MLA Rohan Khaunte are all on the verge on switching loyalties or joining a party.
“Winning elections as an independent is never an easy task, hence many independents want to get under the banner of some party or the other,” said a political analyst.
While Madkaikar was in talks with both MGP and BJP, he seems to have finally zeroed in on the BJP.
He has had several rounds of talks with both party leaders. While MGP has failed to give him any assurance on the Cumbharjua ticket, Parrikar has been successful in doing so.
However, the MLA says he is still a Congressman and would not want to say anything at this juncture though he has declined any talks with Congress leaders.
“I had put across my feelings to the party but they haven’t even responded,” Madkaikar said adding “yes, I have offers from the MGP and BJP but let us wait and watch.”
“I cannot say anything at the moment,” he said.
Quepem MLA Babu Kavlekar too says he is a Congressman and has held meetings with AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh and Rahul Gandhi.
But insiders say he too is on his way out.
“I am a loyal soldier of the party but how long can we stay in the opposition. What answer can we give to the people?” he asked, adding “we can’t be sitting in Opposition every time.”
But, he further adds, “I have no plans to move away right now although I have some offers.”
Valpoi legislator Vishwajit Rane is another fence sitter, who seems to be waiting for the right time to make his move.
Reports suggest either the MLA is planning to join the MGP or will float a new regional outfit Sattari Yuva Morcha.
However, the junior Rane, has squashed speculations that he would form a new regional party by breaking away from Congress.
Rane recently told reporters that those articles on floating regional outfit were damaging to his image.
“I am a Congressman. I may have issues related to functioning and improving the party, but nothing negative is in my mind. It is necessary to make it clear that I am going to be in Congress and I have no intention to join the Bharatiya Janata Party or any other regional front. There is no question of launching Sattari Yuva Morcha or me contesting on Sattari Yuva Morcha,” Vishwajit added.
Porvorim’s independent MLA Rohan Khaunte is also said to be on his way to MGP but rumour mills also suggest he is in touch with BJP leaders.
“Right now I have no plans to move anywhere, I am an independent MLA and mentoring the Goa Forward Party,” he said, adding “even I am hearing only from newspapers and channels that I am joining MGP, BJP etc, which is totally false.”
Bicholim’s independent MLA Naresh Sawal is another such politician waiting to embrace a party but with a condition that it should be supportive of Marathi language.
The MLA had almost signed for MGP, but again the BJP-MGP alliance talks have put a question mark on that.
Hinting that it wants to field Rajesh Patnekar, BJP has refused to give the Bicholim seat to MGP.
“I am joining the MGP, the party and more importantly Sudin Dhavalikar has promised me a ticket from Bicholim. Everyone has the freedom to join any party and I will do as per the wishes of my supporters,” said Sawal.
